Intermediate Excel –Graphs

Excel can create a several different graph types; depending on the type of data you are dealing

with. Excel cannot decide the best graph; you have to use your own mathematical knowledge

and judgement to pick the best graph to display your data.

Line Graph “Line graphs are often used to plot changes in data over time, such as monthly temperature changes or daily changes in stock market prices. They can also be used to plot data recorded from scientific experiments, such as how a chemical reacts to changing temperature or atmospheric pressure. Similar to most other graphs, line graphs have a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. If you are plotting changes in data over time, time is plotted along the horizontal or x-axis and your other data, such as rainfall amounts is plotted as individual points along the vertical or y-axis. When the individual data points are connected by lines, they clearly show changes in your data - such as how a chemical changes with changing atmospheric pressure. You can use these changes to predict future results”. Ref: Line graphs, http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/spreadsheetlessons/ss/excel_graph_use_3.htm. Accessed [online] 1st April 2015

Bar Graph “Bar graphs are one of the most common types of graph used to display data. Sometimes known as "column charts", bar graphs are most often used to show amounts or the number of times a value occurs. The amounts are displayed using a vertical bar or rectangle. The taller the bar, the greater number of times the value occurs…………… Bar graphs make it easy to see the differences in the data being compared.”

Ref: Bar graphs; http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/spreadsheetlessons/ss/excel_graph_use_2.htm. Accessed [online] 1st April 2015

Pie Chart “Pie charts do not use horizontal and vertical axes to plot points like the others…... As a result, it can only be used to show percentages.” Ref: Pie Charts; http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/spreadsheetlessons/ss/excel_graph_use_5.htm. Accessed [online] 1st April 2015

Scatter Graph “Scatter plot graphs are used to show trends in data. They are especially useful when you have a large number of data points. Like line graphs, they can be used to plot data recorded from scientific experiments, such as how a chemical reacts to changing temperature or atmospheric pressure. Whereas line graphs connect the dots or points of data to show every change, with a scatter plot you draw a "best fit" line. The data points are scattered about the line. The closer the data points are to the line the stronger the correlation or affect one variable has on the other.”

Ref: Scatter graphs; http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/spreadsheetlessons/ss/excel_graph_use_4.htm. Accessed [online] 1st April 2015

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46% 35%

11%

Pie Chart

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Scatter Chart

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Column Chart (Bar Chart)

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Line Chart

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Bar and Column Charts

On your practice worksheet use the tab ‘Practice Bar and Column’ to create a column chart

1 Highlight your data; notice that the chart title is in the cell above the numbers.

NB: If you put the title of your chart in a different cell it will not be added to your chart.

2 Use the chart layout buttons to modify your basic chart

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Changing Any Chart Design

3 Click on a chart column to change all the colour of all the columns (in the design tab)

4 Double click on one specific column to format it (eg. in a different colour)

5 Click on the ‘legend’ to move it around, or make it bigger/smaller or to change the text

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6 Click on the ‘layout’ tab to add grid lines

7 Double click on the chart boarder to remove it or change the boarder colour

Page 4

Line Charts

1 Highlight the data in the ‘practice line and scatter tab’; and then pick line graph, from the

choices be careful to pick the graphs on the left.

NB: The charts to the right show a cumulative number of responses, rather than each individual

Final Graph:

Page 5

Consolidation Task –Bar Graph

1 Create a Clustered BAR chart (in 3D) of this data

Number of Learners per tutor

Emma Jesty 15

Matt Hann 23

Shaina Simmons 16

Andy Holmes 10

Emma Ballard 25

2 Change the colour of each bar, so each bar is a different colour

3 Using the ‘Layout’ tab, add ‘data labels’ – ‘inside-end’

Answer over page

Consolidation Task –Scatter Chart

1 Create a SCATTER chart with ‘only markers’ of this data

Number of students playing table tennis each day Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Monday 75 54 27

Tuesday 34 19 43

Wednesday 65 34 59

Thursday 80 25 18

Friday 45 60 31

2 Choose the layout which gives a line of best fit for each week

3 Change the colour of each best fit line to match the week legend/scatter colour

4 Do you think this was the best type of chart to represent the data?

5 Try creating an ‘radar’ chart instead (radar is found in ‘other charts’)

Answer over page

Consolidation Task –Pie Chart

1 Create a 3D pie chart of this data; with a title, a legend to the left and % data labels on

the chart.

2 Remove the boarder from the chart

Answer over page

Page 6

Answer to Bar Graph Task

Answer to Scatter Graph Tasks

Answer to Pie Chart Task

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Emma Jesty

Matt Hann

Shaina Simmons

Andy Holmes

Emma Ballard

Number of Learners per tutor

Emma Jesty

Matt Hann

Shaina Simmons

Andy Holmes

Emma Ballard

17%

26%

18%

11%

28%

Number of Learners per tutor

Emma Jesty

Matt Hann

Shaina Simmons

Andy Holmes

Emma Ballard

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