Computer help

# Using computers to graph

Last revised:

## Cricket Graph for Mac

1. Input your x, x errors, y , and y errors data in Column 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively.
2. Name the columns by clicking over the Column n box where n is the number of the column.
3. From the menu, select Graph, then New Graph, and select the Scatter plot.
4. For your Horizontal (X) Axis, select the column that is labelled as your x axis. For your Vertical (Y) Axis, select the column that is labelled as your y axis. Clicking OK should produce a scatter plot.
   - You can change the symbols by double-clicking on the symbol in the legend on the right side of the graph.
   - Labels and graph title can be changed by selecting the ABC cursor and double-clicking on the axes or graph title.
5. To add a best-fit line, select Options from the menu. Choose Curve Fit. Select Linear as your Method. Make sure that the Display Equation option is checked. You can click on Show to preview. Clicking OK should produce a graph and an equation. This should be your best fit line on the graph. The equation is displayed on top, with the form y = mx + b.
6. To create error bars, select Options from the menu. Choose either X Error Bars or Y Error Bars. Make sure Both Errors are selected. Beneath that, select Source of Error as your data sheet, for example Data #1. Below that select the column that contains the appropriate errors. Click on Show to preview and OK to make the error bars.

## Microsoft Excel 5 for Mac

1. Label your columns in the first row. Input your x data in column A, y data in column D, x errors in column C, and y errors in column D.
2. From the menu, select Insert, then Chart, then On This Sheet. Use the mouse to select a rectangular area to place your graph. You should now see a chart wizard.
3. Select both your x and y columns. Press Next.
4. Select XY (Scatter). Press Next. Select 1 or 2 (scatter graph vs. line graph). Press Next.
5. Under Use First n Column(s) for X Data, select n=1. If you labelled your columns using row 1, then under Use First n Row(s) for Legend Text, select n=1. Press Next.
6. Add a chart title and axis titles, then press Finish.
7. To add a best-fit line, double-click on the graph, then click a point on the graph to highlight all of them. From the menu, select Insert, then Trendline. Select Linear as your Type, then select the Options tab. In here, select Display Equation on Chart. Press OK. Now you should see a best-fit line, along with the equation.
8. To add error bars, make sure the points are still highlighted. From the menu, select Insert, then Error Bars. You will see the X Error Bars and Y Error Bars tabs. Select Both under Display and Custom under Error Amount. In the + and - prompts, select the appropriate error columns. Press OK.

## Microsoft Excel 97 for PC

1. Label your columns in the first row. Input your x data in column A, y data in column D, x errors in column C, and y errors in column D.
2. From the menu, select Insert, then Chart. You should now see a chart wizard.
3. Under Standard Types tab, select XY (Scatter). From Chart Sub-Type, select either scatter points or scatter point with straight (not smooth) lines. Press Next.
4. Select both your x and y columns under Data Range tab. Under the Series tab, (if the data is not preselected for you) select the name of your y axis under Name, and your X and Y values. Press Next.
5. Add a chart title and axis titles, then press Finish.
6. To add a best-fit line, click a point on the graph to highlight all of them. From the menu, select Chart, then Add Trendline. Select Linear as your Type, then select the Options tab. In here, select Display Equation on Chart. Press OK. Now you should see a best-fit line, along with the equation.
7. To add error bars, right-click on one of the data points. From the menu, select Format Data Series. You will see the X Error Bars and Y Error Bars tabs. Select Both under Display and Custom under Error Amount. In the + and - prompts, select the appropriate error columns. Press OK.