Functional Skills: Line Graphs
Functional Skills: Line Graphs Revision
Line Graphs
Line graphs can be used to show the relationship between two groups of data.
Understanding Line Graphs
Example: The line graph to the right shows the relationship between litres and fluid ounces.
Change \textcolor{limegreen}{2.5} litres into fluid ounces.
Step 1: On the vertical axis, start from \textcolor{limegreen}{2.5} and move across until you hit the line.
Step 2: From here, move downwards until you hit the horizontal axis.
Step 3: Read off the value where you hit the horizontal axis. This is the answer.
So, \textcolor{limegreen}{2.5} litres =\textcolor{limegreen}{88} fluid ounces.
You can also change fluid ounces into litres, e.g. \textcolor{red}{24} fluid ounces = \textcolor{red}{0.7} litres.
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Drawing Line Graphs
To draw a line graph, you need to choose what the axes will represent, choose a scale for the axes and plot the points.
Example: Hollie’s height has been recorded over a 20 year period. The results are recorded in the table.
Display this data on a line graph.
The line graph will need to show the year and the height on separate axes.
Then, plot the points on the grid, e.g. for year 4 go up from 4 on the horizontal axis until you reach 100 on the vertical axis. Draw a cross or a dot here. Repeat this for all data.
Finally, join up the points with straight lines.
Completing Line Graphs
For Entry Level 3, you will be given an incomplete line graph and/or table and have to finish them off.
Example: Here is an incomplete line graph of the temperature of a mug of coffee over time, as well as the table of results it was plotted from.
Complete the line graph.
We need to plot a cross at 5 minutes and 70\degree C, and another cross at 10 minutes and 60 \degree C.
Then, join up all of the points with straight lines.
Functional Skills: Line Graphs Example Questions
Question 1: The graph below can be used to change between kilometres and miles.
a) What is 8 kilometres in miles?
b) What is 4 miles in kilometres?
[2 marks]
On the vertical axis, 1 small square represents 0.4 kilometres.
On the horizontal axis, 1 small square represents 0.2 miles.
a) 8 kilometres = 5 miles
b) 4 miles = 6.4 kilometres
Question 2: The graph below can be used to change between litres and pints.
a) What is 7 pints equal to in litres?
b) What is 3 litres equal to in pints?
[2 marks]
On the vertical axis, 1 small square represents 0.2 litres.
On the horizontal axis, 1 small square represents 0.2 pints.
a) 7 pints =4 litres
b) 3 litres = 5.2 pints
Question 3: A technology company records the number of mobile phones they sell over 5 days in a week.
They record the results in the table below.
Draw a line graph for this data, making sure to clearly label your axes.
[4 marks]
Here, we will make 1 square represent 1 mobile phone sale on the vertical axis and days of the week separated by 4 squares on the horizontal axis.
We will also label the axes and give the chart a title, to describe what the chart is showing.
Your completed line graph may look something like this:
Question 4: A technology company records the number of mobile phones they sell over 5 days in a week.
They record the results in the table below.
They partially draw a line graph, seen below.
Complete the line graph.
[3 marks]
We need to plot a cross for Tuesday at 12, and for Thursday at 11.
We then need to join up the points with straight lines.