Graphing Using EXCEL 1. When you open the Excel program you will see a blank worksheet. This is a grid of rows and columns that intersect to form boxes called cells. The rows are labeled with numbers and the columns labeled with letters.2. When you make a graph (which Excel calls a chart) what you record in Column A will, by default, become the X-axis on your graph, and what you record in Column B will be come the Y-axis.
3. Most graphs that you will make in this course will be either a bar graph or a line graph (an x-y scatter plot). So that you will learn how to make these graphs and edit them, this exercise takes you through the process of making a line graph, using some hypothetical data.
4. The following data give the amount of gas (in milliliters) produced by yeast growth over a period of 10 minutes. Record the data in columns A and B. (Type the labels on the first row.) Time is the independent (controlled) variable and it should be on the X-axis. Gas production is the dependent (uncontrolled) variable and it will be on the Y-axis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. Highlight Columns A and B, including the labels. Then click on the chart wizard button on the tool bar.
7. In Step 2, you see a preview of your graph and are asked to confirm the data range. In this case it says: =Sheet$A$1:$B$12. This means that your data begins at cell A1and the last data you want in your chart is in cell B12. If this is not correct you can change it now by typing in the correct values. It also confirms that your data series were recorded in column form, not row form.
8. In Step 3, select the Title tab, and then type in a title, for example, Gas Production by Growing Yeast and labels for the X and Y axes for your graph. Be sure to put these in. You will have an opportunity to change them later. Also note that there is a legend to the right of your graph shown. The legend is the label that you gave Column B when you were initially entering your data. When you have completed Step 3, click on Next.
9. In Step 4, you can request your graph to be shown on a new sheet (a new page) or as an object in Sheet 1 (on the same page as your data). Select this option - that is, as an object in Sheet 1. Click on finish and you will see your graph on the same page as your data. It is helpful to have it on the same page so you can see your data and confirm that your graph clearly reflects what you want it to.
10. Now you can edit your graph and change its size and labels, including font size and type. Follow the directions in #11 to make changes. If you don't like a change, you can always use the Undo (backward facing arrow) on the toolbar.
Notice that when you place the pointer on any area inside the chart, such as on the title, an axis, an axis title, the gridlines, the plot area, etc. a label inside a box will appear. It identifies the area of your chart that the pointer is on. When you right click at any of these boxed labels, a shortcut menu will appear and you can specifically format, including edit, that particular area.
(Alternatively, you can right click on the tool bar area and place a check mark to the right of "Chart". This will show a floating toolbar for charts. Using the drop down menu on the left side of the toolbar will also allow you to select any part of your graph to edit or format.)
MAKING CHANGES:
11. To increase the size of the chart area, left click inside your Chart when you see the label "Chart Area". You will see 8 tiny black boxes appear on the corners and sides of the chart. Point to one at a corner and the pointer becomes a double sided arrow. Hold down the left mouse button and drag outward. Your chart area will increase in size. The boxes on the top, bottom, or either side will allow you to increase the size in each of those directions.
12. Place the pointer on the gray background of the graph itself - the Plot Area. Right click. Select Format Plot Area. The Tab is called Patterns. Under Area, select None. Click on OK. Your plot area should change from gray to white. (Remember you can choose to undo this using the arrow on the Tool Bar.)
13. Right click on the scale for the X axis. Choose Format axis from the menu. You will see tabs for Patterns, Scale, font, Number, Alignment. Select Scale. Change the Maximum to 12 and the Major unit to 2. Then change the Font Size to 8. Click on OK and note the changes in your X axis. Which unit is better for the minor scale, 2 or 5? Why did it work okay to change the maximum from 15 to 12?
Try making similar changes to your Y axis. You should also make changes, using these directions, to your title, the gridlines, tick marks, and the borders of the chart or the graph. Remember: anytime you make a change you don't like, use the Undo on the Tool Bar to reverse your change.
14. Now right click on the X axis Title. Select Format Axis Title and change the font size. If you wish to change the name of the axis, you can left click on it. You should see the cursor blinking. Type your changes.
15. Because you have only one line on this graph, you do not need the Legend to distinguish between lines. Right click on it and select CLEAR to delete the legend box..
16. When you are ready to print, Left click on the Chart Area. Go to
FILE, Print. Be sure it says SELECTED CHART when asked what to print. Hit
OK to print.