Tables, charts, and graphs · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Tables, charts, and graphs

Science · Scientific Inquiry · ages 12-13
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. When drawing a line of best fit on a scatter plot, you should:

    • Connect the first and last data points
    • Draw a line that balances points above and below it
    • Make the line pass through the origin
    • Join every data point with straight segments

  2. A spring stretches 2 cm for every 50 g of mass added. What is the gradient of the extension-versus-mass graph in cm per gram?

    Answer: ______________

  3. A bar chart is the right choice for plotting continuous data like height versus weight.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A line of best fit passes through (2, 10) and (6, 22). What is its gradient?

    Answer: ______________

  5. A student records how far a toy car travels every second. Which graph type fits this data best?

    • Line graph
    • Bar chart
    • Scatter graph

  6. Which table heading correctly shows the quantity and unit for time measured in seconds?

    • Time
    • Time / s
    • Time (in the s column)

  7. A data table records temperature in °C and ice-cream sales in pounds. The line of best fit has equation sales = 5 * temp + 20. What are the predicted sales at 25 °C?

    Answer: ______________

  8. A line of best fit passes through the points (2, 4) and (6, 12). What is the gradient?

    Answer: ______________

  9. Cole plots temperature against time as a bar chart, with one bar for every minute. What is the problem with his choice?

    • He should have used a scatter graph because he has two variables
    • Bar charts cannot be used for science experiments
    • Temperature changes continuously, so a line graph shows the trend better

  10. A line of best fit passes through (0, 3) and (5, 18). What is its gradient?

    Answer: ______________

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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Tables, charts, and graphs W1-mt_YHsUhi4Prc-s1

  1. Draw a line that balances points above and below it · A line of best fit represents the overall trend. It should have roughly equal numbers of points above and below, and follow the direction of the data.
  2. 0.04 · Gradient = change in extension / change in mass = 2 cm / 50 g = 0.04 cm/g.
  3. False · Height and weight are continuous variables. A scatter plot shows their relationship. Bar charts are for categorical data.
  4. 3 · Gradient = (22 - 10) / (6 - 2) = 12 / 4 = 3.
  5. Line graph · Distance travelled changes continuously over time, so a line graph shows that change best.
  6. Time / s · Time is the quantity and s is the unit, so the heading is Time / s.
  7. 145 · Substitute temp = 25: sales = 5 * 25 + 20 = 125 + 20 = 145.
  8. 2 · Gradient = change in y / change in x = (12 - 4) / (6 - 2) = 8 / 4 = 2.
  9. Temperature changes continuously, so a line graph shows the trend better · Since time and temperature both change smoothly, a line graph shows the pattern more clearly than separate bars.
  10. 3 · Gradient = (18 - 3) / (5 - 0) = 15 / 5 = 3.
Worksheet · LightMySky