Name_______________________________________________________ Period______

7th Grade Graphing Practice

Graphing is an important procedure used to display data collected. Graphs must be constructed
correctly to accurately portray the data. Many times the wrong graph is used to show the data and
it can be confusing.
A graph contains six major parts: The title, the independent variable, the dependent variable,
the scales for each variable, the legend, and the key.
The title: By reading the title, the reader should get an idea about the graph. It should be a short
and concise label placed above the graph.
The Independent Variable: the variable that can be controlled by the experimenter.
It can include time (dates, minutes, hours), depth (feet, meters) temperature (Celsius). This
variable is placed on the X-axis (horizontal axis).
The Dependent Variable: the variable that is directly affected or changed by the independent
variable. It is the result of what happens because of the independent variable. This variable is
placed on the Y-axis (vertical axis).
The Scales for each Variable: The scales should start with 0 and climb based on intervals such
as: multiples of 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, or 100. Your data numbers will determine the scale of the
numbers.
The Legend: a description about the graph's data. It should be short and to the point and placed
under the graph.
The Key: used to show what part of the graph is represented.

Bar vs. Line Graph: Use a line graph when the independent variable has continuous
numerical data. Use a bar graph when the independent variables are separate categories.

Procedure 1: BAR GRAPH

Using the following data, answer the questions
below and then construct a bar graph.
1. What is the independent variable and why?

2. What is the dependent variable and why?

3. What title and legend would you give the graph?

Favorite
Colors

Number of Students

Red
Blue
Green
Orange
Pink
Purple
Yellow

8
10
2
5
9
4
5

Graph Title: _________________________________________________________

Legend: _______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Now graph this data on the graph paper. Dont forget all graph parts that are needed. Label it as
required.

Procedure 2: LINE GRAPH

Diabetes is a disease affecting the insulin producing glands of the pancreas. If there is not enough
insulin being produced by these cells, the amount of glucose in the blood will remain high. A
blood glucose level above 140 for an extended period of time is not considered normal. Answer
the following questions.
1. What is the independent variable and why?
2. What is the dependent variable and why?
3. Does this individual have diabetes?
4. What data do you have to support your
hypothesis?

Hours after eating

0.5
1
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
4.0

Glucose mL/Liter
180
195
230
245
235
225
200

5. What title and legend would you give this graph?

Title: ________________________________________________________________
Legend: _______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Now using the graph paper, graph the data using a line graph. Be sure to include all six required
parts of a graph.

Procedure 3: CIRCLE (PIE) GRAPH

Your community has collected $10,000 in donations for a new city park. The costs were: $1,400
to design the park, $800 to clear the land, $5,700 to landscape, $1,000 to upgrade playground
equipment and $220 for other costs.
Using this information answer the following questions.
1. What was the most expensive part about the new park?
2. Was there any money left? How much?
3. What percentage of the money was used to upgrade the playground equipment?
Now using the graph paper, graph the data using a pie graph. This shows percentages and what
the break down is without having to read through the actual numbers. Dont forget the title,
legend and key.
Summary:
1. What conclusions can be determined from the data in graph 1?

2. What conclusions can be determined from the data in graph 2?

3. What conclusions can be determined from the data in graph 3?