• accuracy: How "correct" or close to target the values are.
• precision: how consistent the data is (close in value and predictable,) but not necessarily "correct."

1. Independent variable: the one thing you change to see if it has an effect on the dependent variable that you will measure
2. Dependent variable: the one thing that is observed (measured) and recorded as data to check for change as the outcome
3. Controlled variables: the things that stay the same so they don't have an effect on the outcome.

• Scatterplot: points (not connected) show correlation or cause and effect between independent and dependent variables.
  •  May not have a 1-to-1 relationship in the data or other relationship such as change over time.
  • May or may not show a trend that fits a line or curve.
• Line Graph: points are connected to show change in dependent variable as independent variable is changed.
  •  Shows a 1-to-1 relationship in the data.
• Double Line Graph: shows multiple data sets (lines) on the same graph to compare data.

• Title given as y versus x     i.e. Temperature over Time
• x-axis is always the independent variable
• y-axis is always the dependent variable
• labels on the axes show the name of the variable and the units of measurement i.e. distance in meters
• points - write the values on the graph for clarity and comparison, especially between lines
• origin : where the axes cross, does not have to be 0,0 but should be based on the range of your data and how you want to present it.

• Categories Axis: on the axis at the base of the bar (usually the 'x' axis). i.e. month, color, type
  • May not have a 1-to-1 relationship in the data.
  • May not show relationship between categories
  • Use color or patterns to show differences
  • label each category and name the axis
• Values Axis: axis shows scale. Write number on the top of each bar for clarity and comparison.
  • Often scaled with origin at 0 to show magnitude.
  • label the axis with the name of the measure and scale
• Double Bar Graph: shows multiple data sets on the same graph to compare data. i.e. year-to-year, class-to-class, etc
• Histogram: shows frequency of value categories i.e. number of students at each shoe size

• Title given as Values  versus Categories     i.e. Students Favorite Flavors

• Scale: divide the circumference to appropriate part-to-whole divisions - fractions, percents, etc
• Categories: each section sized to the appropriate part-to-whole scale - fraction, percent, etc.
  • Must be related to 100% or whole..
  • Label each category slice with the name and value
  • Use colors or patterns to show differences
• Title given as Values  versus Categories     i.e. Students Favorite Flavors

• headings: label columns and/or rows with name of data and units

• Linear
• non-linear
• increasing
• decreasing
• repeating cycle
• example names in picture to left

Line of Best Fit - A mathematical process (usually with Excel) to find a line that fits the data. Used to find a correlation between independent and dependent values.

•   A meter is the unit used to measure length, or the distance between two points.
•   A liter is the unit used to measure the volume of a liquid or the amount of space it takes up. 
•   A gram is used to measure the amount of matter in an object. 
•   Degrees Celsius measure temperature.