Making a Graph Using Microsoft Excel
1.
Start Excel.
Entering Data
2.
You will place the independent variable numbers in column A to be graphed
on the x-axis and the dependent variable in column B to be graphed on the
y-axis.
3.
4.
In cell A2 type the second value and "Enter".
5.
To have Excel fill in the rest of column A for you, use the mouse to put
cursor in cell A1 and hold mouse button down while moving to cell A2. Release mouse button to "select"
the two cells.
6.
Use the mouse to move cursor to bottom right corner of cell A2 so it
changes from hollow cross to solid cross.
7.
Press and hold the mouse button while moving cursor down to insert the
desired data. Release mouse button.
8.
In column B enter your data that corresponds to the values in column A.
9. When all data is entered, use "Page Up" or mouse button to top of page and click mouse button in cell A1.
10.
Once you have
all your data entered, select both columns of data and click on the small
bar-graph icon at the top of the window.
This is the Chart Wizard.
11.
12.
Click Next to
see a sample of your graph. Click Next again to
continue.
13.
Click on the
Titles Tab at the top of the open window to enter the Chart Title and the x-
and y-axes titles. Notice that as you
type, your sample graph is updated to show the new titles.
14.
Choose the
Legend Tab at the top of the open window to choose placement of your
legend. For this graph, un-check Show Legend to remove the legend from
your chart.
15.
Click Finish
to see a completed graph.
Line of Best Fit
16.
The line Excel plots is connected data points. For most science graphs a line of best fit is
appropriate.
17.
To delete the line (not the data) click on it to highlight it. Click Format on the menu bar and Selected
Data Series... in the Line box click the None button
and OK. (Leave the data series
highlighted.)
18.
To add the line of best fit click Chart on the menu bar and Add Trendline.
19.
If the data indicate a straight line choose Linear and OK. If data indicate a curved line choose
Logarithmic and OK.
Extrapolating Data
20.
Extrapolating
data is a way to extend your trendline so that
additional points can be predicted or an x- or y-intercept can be found. To extend your trendline,
select your trendline and from the Format menu,
choose Selected Trendline. Click on the options tab and then use the Forecast
option to extend your line backwards or forwards.
21.
If needed, check
the box that says “Display equation on chart” to show the slope-intercept form
of a linear equation. (This will show
you the exact y-intercept.)
Changing an Axis
Scale
22.
Excel
automatically chooses where your graph axes will begin and end. You can change the scales of the axes to
better fit your data. To change an axis scale, double click on the axis and
choose Scale from the Tabs at the top of the open window. Type in the new minimum and/or new maximum.
Printing
the Graph
23.
To print the graph click in an empty space on the graph to highlight
it. Click on the printer icon (fourth or
fifth from the left) or click File, Print, OK.
This will print your graph only.