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Bar Graphs

The document provides guidelines for making bar graphs, including identifying variables, determining variable ranges and scale, numbering and labeling axes, and plotting data points. Bar graphs are used to display quantitative data and frequencies, with one axis for categorical variables and one for measured amounts or values.

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2K views11 pages

Bar Graphs

The document provides guidelines for making bar graphs, including identifying variables, determining variable ranges and scale, numbering and labeling axes, and plotting data points. Bar graphs are used to display quantitative data and frequencies, with one axis for categorical variables and one for measured amounts or values.

Uploaded by

davgen
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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History of Science:

Physics
Bar Graphs
Bar Graphs
A bar graph is a visual display used to compare the amounts or frequency
of occurrence of different characteristics of data. This type of display
allows us to:
•compare groups of data, and
•to make generalizations about the data quickly.

When reading a bar graph there are several things we


must pay attention to: the graph title, two axes,
including axes labels and scale, and the bars.

Since bar graphs are used to graph frequencies or


amounts of data in particular groups, we will need to
determine which axis is the grouped data axis, as well
as what the specific groups are, and which is the
frequency axis.
Parts of a Bar Graph
Now let's look at the components of a bar graph individually.

Graph Title--The graph title gives an overview of the


information being presented in the graph. The title is given at
the top of the graph.

Axes and their labels--Each graph has two axes. The axes
labels tell us what information is presented on each axis. One
axis represents data groups, the other represents the amounts
or frequency of data groups.

Grouped Data Axis--The grouped data axis is always at the


base of the bars. This axis displays the type of data being
graphed.

Frequency Data Axis--The frequency axis has a scale that is a


measure of the frequency or amounts of the different data
groups.

Axes Scale-- Scale is the range of values being presented along


the frequency axis.

Bars--The bars are rectangular blocks that can have their base
at either vertical axis or horizontal axis (as in this example).
Each bar represents the data for one of the data groups.
Analysis of the Bar Graph
Price of Corn versus Quantity Demanded
Now that we understand all the pieces that go into a
bar graph we are ready to discuss the analysis of a bar
graph.

Being able to do some data analysis of bar graphs can


be more complicated then it initially looks.

Keep in mind that parts of this process, such as doing an


overview of the titles of the table and axes, are done
quickly.

The parts that may take more practice are determining


the type of data groups being presented, whether the
scale is appropriate, and making comparisons between
groups of data. For example, in the bar graph Price of
Corn versus Quantity Demanded below, what
information is being displayed in this bar graph?
If we begin by looking at the axes we notice that the data groups go from a low of $1 to a high of $5.

We also may notice that there does not appear to be any trend in going from low to high values of Price per Bushel.

One thing we can see here is how difficult it can be to determine exact amounts from a bar graph. For example, at a
price per bushel of $3, it is hard to tell whether the quantity demanded is 19, 20, or 21.
Example
Given the graph below, answer the following questions.
1.Which course has the most students enrolled in it?
2.Order the courses by enrollment from lowest to highest.
3.The enrollment in Econ is approximately how many times bigger than the enrollment in Chem?
4.Approximately how many students were enrolled in the course with the most students?
5.Approximately how many more students are in Econ than in Physics?

Enrollment in Introductory Courses at Union University

Answers to Example
1.Which course has the most students enrolled in it?
Econ has the most students enrolled.
2.Order the courses by enrollment from lowest to highest.
From lowest to highest: Physics, Chem, Psych, Poly Sci, Econ.
3.The enrollment in Econ is approximately how many times bigger than
the enrollment in Chem?
The enrollment is approximately two times larger.
4.Approximately, how many students were enrolled in the course with
the most students?
There are approximately 340 students enrolled in the course with the
most students, which is Econ.
5.Approximately how many more students are there in Econ than in
Physics?
There are approximately 200 more students in Econ than in Physics.
Guidelines for Making a Bar Graph

Bar graphs are ideal for showing information that reflect quantities or the frequency of things, such as kinds of
pets, number of children, or people’s favorite brands. Bar graphs are frequently used to display data in science
and are the first graphs that students learn to create. Follow the steps below to create bar graphs based on
data in a data table.

Which detergent makes the best bubbles?


Guidelines for Making a Bar Graph

Which detergent makes the best bubbles?

Step 1: Identify the variables

Independent variable (purposefully changed by the experimenter): Detergent brand


Dependent variable (changes with the independent variable and is measured): Size of
bubbles
Guidelines for Making a Bar Graph

Which detergent makes the best bubbles?

Step 2: Determine the variable range


Subtract the lowest data value from the highest data value for the dependent variable. Range of
average bubbles: 35.8 cm - 15.0 cm = 25.8 cm
Guidelines for Making a Bar Graph

Which detergent makes the best bubbles?

Step 3: Determine the scale of the graph


Determine the numerical value for each grid unit that best fits the range of each variable.
Guidelines for Making a Bar Graph

Which detergent makes the best bubbles?

Step 4: Number and label the y axis, label the x axis, and title the graph

Step 5: Determine the data points and create the bar graph
(A, 35.8 cm) (B, 24.8 cm) (C, 15.0 cm)
Guidelines for Making a Bar Graph

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