Q&A for How to Make Bar Graphs

No, that would be a different type of graph. I think you might be thinking of a trend graph.

No. They are most likely going to be different, since the two values represented aren't usually equal.

Label the x-axis with every day of June and the y-axis with the temperatures in degrees, then draw your bars.

You should probably use a break in your graph. This is done by putting a lightning bolt shape at the point of the break. (Simply search "broken graph" for more information about how/when to use them.)

You should gap a bar graph equally, such as every 2 squares along. Remember, a bar graph without any gaps isn't a bar graph - it's a histogram.

Yes, that sounds like a workable plan.

Yes. Otherwise, nobody will know what your graph is supposed to be showing.

A bar graph has bars with gaps between them. A histogram has bars that are close together with no gaps.

The use of a bar graph is to represent data in a visually pleasing way. It is most commonly used when X value (along the bottom) is wordy and Y value (up and down) is numerical.

Plot all of the points, then join them all together.

To accommodate decimal numbers, you would have to divide each whole-number length into smaller segments (such as tenths or hundredths). Depending on the scale of your graph, you might have to estimate where to place a small decimal number.

Let year 1 BC be immediately adjacent to year 1 AD. There's no reason to show a year "zero." (By the way, from the beginning of year 10 BC to the end of year 10 AD was a time period of 20 years, not 19. If there had been a year called "zero," that would have made a time period of 21 years.)

Assign a bar to each date and choose bar lengths to reflect the times, or do the opposite. Choose the method that makes the graph easier to understand.

A bar graph typically reflects only two sets of quantities at once. You could make a separate graph for each year of data. However, if you need to combine all the data into one graph, you could use different colors within a single bar to represent different years.

Yes, these are necessary. Headings are important as they explain the purpose and significance of the graph. Omitting the heading could cause confusion.

Typically, they are, but they don't have to be. Equal widths suggest that each piece of data is of equal importance.

An independent variable is a known or given quantity within a question. Its value is not dependent on any other quantity. For example, if y = 3x, x is independent because it can be any assigned value, while the value of y depends on the value of x. Therefore, y is a dependent variable.

The unit of measurement for height on the y-axis depends on the context and data you have. Common units include inches, feet, millimeters, centimeters, meters, and kilometers. Choose the one most appropriate for your data. If you have none provided, it's okay to list the units as "units."

Yes. Typically, bar graphs don't use x and y designations. They were mentioned in the article to help explain line graph construction. Essentially, a bar graph is just a series of rectangles lined up next to each other.

Yes. The horizontal axis could represent time increments, and the vertical component could show projected revenue or some other business metric.

It's not mandatory, but it is customary. It's really a matter of appearance: the orderliness of the display helps to show trends (similar to a line graph).

No, although some worksheets require you to do so. It depends on your teacher/instructor.

You can construct a bar graph on grid paper or Google Sheets (Excel works too). Know your variables and data, and start inserting it in the appropriate areas of the graph.

Choose a larger scale for your drawing that allows you to show small numbers clearly.