Graphing Practice

Directions: Draw your graphs on a piece of graph paper. Write the questions with your corresponding answers into your notebook (next to the correct graph).

Graph #1

JJ is the abandoned California gray whale calf who beached herself Jan. 11, 1997 near Marina del Rey, California. She was near death, weak, and lethargic. She was taken to Sea World for rehabilitation. She was held in the 1.7-million-gallon pool, formerly Sea World’s "Shamu Backstage" killer whale attraction. JJ is the largest animal Sea World has ever attempted to rehabilitate. On March 31, 1998, JJ was released with a radio transmitter to track her progress. The release coincided with the gray whale migration off the Californian coast. You were a member of the Sea World Animal Care Department team and had been assigned to oversee the care of JJ the gray whale. One of your duties was to measure and weigh JJ about every month. Now that JJ has been released, you need to GRAPH YOUR DATA.

Questions:

Date / Weight (lbs)
11-Jan-97 / 1670
11-Feb-97 / 2576
11-Mar-97 / 3230
22-Apr-97 / 4812
20-May-97 / 6304
17-Jun-97 / 7790
22-Jul-97 / 9600
9-Sep-97 / 10580
11-Nov-97 / 14950
1-Dec-97 / 21770
6-Jan-98 / 20390
31-Mar-98 / 19200

1.)  What type of graph did you use for this data? Why?

2.)  What is your graph’s title?

3.)  Identify the independent and dependent variable?

4.)  At what date did JJ weigh the most? Least?

Graph #2

The data below represents the ticket sale numbers for all of the NPHS home varsity football games in one season. You are going to present this data to Mrs. Wong, but first, you need to create a GRAPH for your data.

Game Number / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
Number of tickets sold / 510 / 540 / 575 / 615 / 600 / 620 / 635

Questions:

1.)  What type of graph did you use for this data? Why?

2.)  What is your graph’s title?

3.)  Identify the independent and dependent variable?

4.)  How would you use this graphed data to persuade Mrs. Wong to give the football team more money for new equipment?

Graph #3

Use the information below to construct an appropriate graph.

Month / Jan / Feb / March / April / May / June / July / Aug / Sept / Oct / Nov / Dec
Rainfall (mL) in Willamette Valley / 15 / 21 / 28 / 24 / 16 / 8 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 10
Rainfall (mL) in Apple Valley / 16 / 29 / 36 / 27 / 19 / 8 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 7 / 11

Questions:

1.)  What type of graph did you use for this data? Why?

2.)  What is your graph’s title?

3.)  Identify the independent and dependent variable?

4.)  Compare and contrast the rainfall in Willamette Valley and Apple Valley.

Analysis and Conclusion Questions:

1.)  Does a steep curve on a line graph indicate a rapid or slow rate of change?

2.)  What is the advantage of using multiple lines on a line graph, or multiple bars on a bar graph?

3.)  Why is it important to have all parts of a graph clearly labeled and drawn

4.)  You are conducting an experiment to measure the gain in mass of a young puppy over a ten-week period. What should you put on each axis? Explain.

5.)  In your opinion, is it easier to view this data using the table or the graph? Why?