easy Answer: new to excel,can u explain how to draw this simple graph(s)

acidvoodoo

Platinum Member
Jan 6, 2002
2,972
1
0
well, i had excel for ages,but never really used it to draw graphs

i want to plot a pretty simple scientific graph. Just want it to plot the points then draw a smooth curve through them. i am plotting Molar Concetration against the amount of Hydrogen produced. So i'd like Concentration on the X axis (bottom right?), and the hydrogen produced.

Edit: forgot to say my main problem is knowing how to arrange the cells to work for my graph, not actually getting into the graph wizard it's self


thank you
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,136
622
126
Short answer: enter your data into two columns on the spreadsheet. Then highlight it all and hit the little button that looks like a graph in your toolbar. Then it will step you through making the graph. I first learned this flipping channels. Landed on one of those computer tutor infomercials:p
 

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
9,911
0
76
Put the data in two columns, say A and B

A should have the data for the X Axis, B should have the Y axis values.

Highlite them both, click on the graph wizard icon (looks like a little bar graph). Use a line graph as your plot type. That should get you what you need. You can also try x-y scatter, but it doesn't plot the line, you can do it with a trendline, its just extra work.
 

acidvoodoo

Platinum Member
Jan 6, 2002
2,972
1
0
Originally posted by: MrBond
Put the data in two columns, say A and B

A should have the data for the X Axis, B should have the Y axis values.

Highlite them both, click on the graph wizard icon (looks like a little bar graph). Use a line graph as your plot type. That should get you what you need. You can also try x-y scatter, but it doesn't plot the line, you can do it with a trendline, its just extra work.

agh, this is what happend last time. BTW, i am supposed to put each piece of data in a seperate number box right? well doin the prodcdure u said, i get 2 lines on the graph :S it's weird
one if a line along the bottom, and one is a curve line
 

acidvoodoo

Platinum Member
Jan 6, 2002
2,972
1
0
ok, worted out previous problem by switchin around te resutls (forgot to go from low digit results to the higher ones), but now i have another problem.

i'll just post my rough results that i am using

Molar concentration Hydrogen Gas produced
0.166 2.25
0.25 4
0.333 10
0.416 13
0.5 21
0.583 26
0.666 35
0.75 42
0.833 61
0.916 64
1 72


after the graph is drawn on excel, durin the wizard, rather then put 0.166 along the bottom etc, it like rounds it up and does 0.2, 0.4 etc etc etc, help plz!


 

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
9,911
0
76
excel will always pick its own scale, you can adjust it by right clicking on the bottom axis and clicking on Format Axis. It wont use the numbers you put in as the scale, but if you would plot it normally on graph paper using the same scale excel uses, it looks the same.

If you need lables on each point, right click your line, go to format data series, then to data lables
 

GoodToGo

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2000
3,516
1
0
highligh the cells, right click and goto format cell and then number. Change the number of decimal places to the value you want.
 

acidvoodoo

Platinum Member
Jan 6, 2002
2,972
1
0
it won't work, right clickin on the bottom axis in the graph :(

to explain more clearer, i basicly want it to have 0, 0.166, 0.25 etc etc up to 1.0 along the bottom, then 0-80 of hydrogen on the side (which it does anyway). so now, the amount of H will join up with the conc number hat is on the bottom, in the middle of the graph
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
I don't think you can do what you want to do. Try this instead - right-click the chart and select "Chart Options". Choose the Data Labels tab. Turn on "Show label". Click OK. This puts the X-axis value next to each datapoint.

Can you live with that?