Graphing Fundamentals
Graphing Fundamentals
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Department of Biology, San Diego Mesa College
Learn to make graphs on Google Sheets!
Learn to make graphs on Google Sheets!
Using the information on this page, you will learn how to create different types of graphs using Google Sheets, a freely available spreadsheet platform on the web. You can find information about how to access Google Sheets on the "Welcome!" Page.
Before you learn to graph in Google Sheets, we recommend that you watch Video 1: Types of Data on the Data Fundamentals Page. You can navigate to this page using the left-hand navigation menu.
Before you learn to graph in Google Sheets, we recommend that you watch Video 1: Types of Data on the Data Fundamentals Page. You can navigate to this page using the left-hand navigation menu.
Video 3: Creating a Graph for Numerical Data
Video 3: Creating a Graph for Numerical Data
In this video, you will learn how to:
Create a scatterplot and change general chart formatting
Label the x-axis and y-axis with appropriate axis titles
Adjust the minimum and maximum values of an axis
Add a trendline and calculate R-squared (if appropriate)
Video 4: Creating a Graph for Categorical Data
Video 4: Creating a Graph for Categorical Data
In this video, you will learn how to:
Create a bar chart and change general chart formatting
Label the x-axis and y-axis with appropriate axis titles
Adjust the minimum and maximum values of an axis
Download your graph as an image
Now it's your turn to try!
Now it's your turn to try!
What type of graph would you make of the following data?
What type of graph would you make of the following data?
Did you choose a bar graph?
A bar graph is the best choice for this data because the independent variable consists of categorical data (candy color).
Fun fact: Did you know that M&M color ratios have changed over time? While brown M&Ms used to be the most abundant, blue and orange M&Ms have taken the top spot in recent years!
Here is what your finished graph should look like:
What type of graph would you make of the following data?
What type of graph would you make of the following data?
Did you choose a scatterplot?
A scatterplot is the best choice for this data because the independent variable consists of numerical data (chlorophyll a concentration).
Fun fact: These are real data points taken during a research cruise in the Chukchi Sea, a part of the Arctic Ocean between Alaska and Russia! The chlorophyll measurement gives us an idea how many phytoplankton (algae) are in the water. The microzooplankton are their predators! You can learn more about this research expedition at https://arcticspring.org/ and find the published data here.
Here is what your finished graph should look like
In this instance, a trendline is appropriate because the researcher may want to understand whether prey abundance (represented by chlorophyll a) can be used to explain variations in predator abundance (represented by microzooplankton biomass). This trendline information can be placed in several locations on the graph by editing the position of the legend under the Customize Tab of the Chart Editor!
Questions?
Questions?
Contact Dr. Daniela Bruckman: dbruckman@sdccd.edu
Contact Dr. Paige Hu: phu@sdccd.edu
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