Line Graphs

Line Graphs are the most effective and savvy tool for transforming raw data into a visual representation. Using the line graphs to connect different data points allows an easy tracking of changes, trends, and patterns over time. They are useful in Analysing changes in stock prices over time, taking the average temperature of a week, or just visually representing different variables. These can all be done with these line graph diagrams.

1.0What is a Line Graph?

A line graph is a type of chart which represents the data in the form of lines over a continuous interval. It displays data pairs on a coordinate plane, where every point represents a specific value for both the axes, namely the X and Y axes. These points are connected by straight lines. The y-axis in a line graph is usually a dependent variable that changes with respect to the x-axis, an independent variable. 

2.0Key Components of a Line Graph

Although a simple chart, a Line graph does contain various components that need to be specified precisely. These components are: 

1. Title: A title describes the initial idea of what category or data is described in the main graph. 
2. X-axis: It is the horizontal line that generally represents the independent variable, that is, time or categories. 
3. Y-axis: The vertical line in the graph is known as the y-axis which most commonly represents any dependent variable. 
4. Data Points: The actual data points or numbers for which the data is being graphically represented. 
5. Scale: The scale is the constant interval or difference that is used between each data point. 

3.0How to Generate a Line Graph?

Generating a line graph is not a tough task just follow these five easy steps to make a line graph: 

• Collect Data: Gather and analyse the information on which the graph needs to be plotted.
• Set the Axes: After analysing the data, assign each axes to their respective variables. In simple words, set which variable goes onto the X-axis and which variable goes onto the Y-axis. 
• Plot the Data Points: For each data point, find the X-coordinate and a Y-coordinate, then plot the graphs.
• Connect Data Points: Draw straight lines connecting between the points to visualise the given trend.
• Add Labels and Title: Give a title related to the information and labels for the graph to interpret it better. 

4.0Types of Line Graph

The line graphs can be divided into three types which include: 

• Simple Line Graph: A line graph which includes the use of only one line for the depiction of data is known as a simple line graph. 

Multiple Line Graph: This is the graph which uses multiple lines to compare the stats between two or more data sets. For example, comparing the sales of two stores over a month. 

Compound Line Graph: If the data given can be further divided into two or more types of data then this type of graph is used. In simple words, the total data is subdivided into smaller parts. 

5.0Uses of Line Graphs

The line graphs are quite useful for a visual representation of: 

1. Monitoring temperature fluctuations over a period of time or comparing the temperature between two different cities. 
2. Population growth or decline in a certain city or over a period of time. 
3. Comparing the stats of two or more students in a class test or annual exam. 
4. Tracking the status of health, including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, or heart rate over a certain time. 
5. Depiction of economic inflation or deflation in a country, such as GDP growth or taxation. 
6. Comparing stats of two or more teams in a match of a certain sport. 

6.0Example Line Graph 

Problem 1: A city wants to track the average temperature changes over the months of a year. The temperature data for each month is as follows:

Solution: 

Problem 2: In an ODI cricket match between India and Australia, the run scored by both teams in the whole match according to over is compared as shown in the table.

Make a Multiple line graph for the information given. 

Solution: 

Problem 3: The following table shows the monthly sales data (in thousands) for three products, Product A, Product B, and Product C, over 6 months:

Construct a line graph for a visual representation of the following data. 

Solution: