Tables-FAQ

When I type numbers into my table, it changes them. It either rounds decimals that I dont
want rounded, or completely changes the number!
You need to format your cells. Highlight the cells that are causing problems and
right click. Go down to Format Cells. Click on the Number tab along the top and choose
what format you want your cells to be in. Most of the time youll want to choose the number
option and then click how many decimal places you need.
For the Car project, we want our data cells (Age, actual price, linear data, and
exponential data ) to all be Number (2
nd
option down) and rounded to 2 decimal
places.

How do I enter an exponent for an equation?
Type in your entire equation. Highlight the part that should be an exponent, go
to the top left side of the screen and click on the little box at the corner of font and select
superscript.
For the Car project, our exponential equations have exponents in them. Type in
the full equation example: y = 14441.302(0.998)x. The x is supposed to be an
exponent Highlight the x, go to the top left side of the screen and click on the little box
at the corner of font and select superscript.

Creating graphs and charts

1.) Enter all your information into a table
For the Car Project we are making 1 table, but with 3 y columns One for the
prices from the internet, one for the Linear Data, and one for the Exponential Data.
Your x values is the age of the car (ex. 1995 car is 17 years old for X).

2.) Go to the menu bar across the top of the screen and move to Insert. In the middle of the
new menu bar, youll see about 7 options for chart categories. Choose your chart and then the
subcategory.
For the Car project we want a Scatter chart (second option from the right).
When you click on Scatter five more sub-categories show up. You want the chart in
the top right (scattered points connected by smooth lines). When the chart pops up in
your screen, youll want to click and drag it over to the side so you can still see your
entire data table.

3.) To insert your data into the graph, right click in the graph and click on Select Data. A box
will now show up that you can use to enter your data into the chart.

4.) In the chart data range category you will have your x-values. Put your cursor in the box,
clear out anything already written there, and then moved to your table and highlight your x-
values.
For the Car project, youll highlight your Age of car, in increasing order

5.) To input each set of data In the box on the left, youll click on Series 1 and then the
Edit box above it.
- Type in a name for your series (this will be what comes up in the legend).
- Move the box for Series X-values, erase anything already in that box, and
then highlight your x-values (in order, top to bottom).
- Move to the box for Series Y-Values, erase anything already in that box, and
highlight your y-values from your table (again, in order!).
- Click OK
For the Car project, well start with the Actual Price.
- The Series name is Raw Data
- The x-values is the Age of Car
- The y-values are the Actual Prices

6.) If you only have one set of data, move to #7.
If you need to add more data sets to your graph, click Add above the box on
the left. Follow the same steps above (in #5) for each set of data that you have.
For the Car project, you need to add Linear Data, and Exponential Data.

7.) After youve added all data sets, click OK. To make your graph easier to read, you should
make it a separate sheet. To do this, right click in the blank white space on the right, and click
on Move Chart. Select the button for New Sheet. Now you can move back and forth
between the chart and your data table by clicking on Chart 1 and Sheet 1 in the lower left
hand corner of the screen.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOUVE SUCCESSFULLY CREATED A CHART!!! However, this chart is
hard to read and understand, so now you need to format it.


Formatting Graphs/Charts

Adding a Title to your Graph
In the menu bar across the top of the screen, click on Layout, the 2
nd
option from the right. In
the middle of the new menu bar youll see a box for Labels. Click on Chart Title. Choose
how you want your title to appear (as an overlay over the graph, or up above the graph).
Chart Title will now show up on your graph and you can click on it to edit and type in your
title.

Adding axis titles
Same as above... Click on Axis Titles & choose Horizontal or Vertical Axis.

Changing the background on the graph
Right click in the middle of your graph on a blank spot (dont click on top of a line or point) and
select Format Plot Area. Choose what Fill you want.

Changing axis labels
Right click on any label in the axis you want to change and select Format Axis. Under Axis
Options you can change the start value (minimum) by clicking the button next to fixed and
typing in a new value (same process to change maximum). To change the distance between
labels you need to change your major axis unit.
For the Car project we want our x-axis to run from 0-20 (to give a little buffer
room on either side of the graph), and your major axis unit should be 1 so that there is a
tick mark every year. Your y-axis labels/units will depend on the prices that you are
working with.

Changing the look of a line/data series
Right click on any point in the data series (on that line), and select Format Data Series. By
scrolling through the options on the left side, you can change the color and size of the line, and
the color, size, or type of marker being used.
**NOTE - If you are printing on a black and white printer, please make sure we can tell
the difference between the lines on your graph. An option you have is to give each line
a different thickness.

C hanging the type of line for one data series
Right click on any point in the data series (on that line), and select Change Series Chart Type.
You can now go through and change what type of graph is being used for just that set of data.
(To change ALL sets of data, right click on any blank space in the graph and select Change Chart
Type.
For the Car project, we want the ACTUAL PRICE to be just plotted points (without the
line) even though everything else will have the connecting line. Right click on the ACTUAL
PRICE line and select change series chart type. You want the option that is just points
(without lines) in the XY Scatter category.