The Basics of Graphs and Charts
Graphs and charts communicate information visually. They can show patterns, help scientists identify correlations, and get the point of the experiment across quickly.
Typically, the independent variable is plotted on the x-axis
The dependent variable is plotted on the y-axis.
The mnemonic DRY MIX, for “dependent, responding, y-axis” and “manipulated, independent, x-axis,” can help students remember this point.
Let’s look at the different types of graphs and which types of data are best represented by each.