Question

Following are the steps for plotting a line graph.

(a)	Plot the data points.
(b)	Connect the data points with straight lines.
(c)	Use a kink if actual data is far away from the starting value zero.
(d)	Determine the independent and dependent variables.
(e)	Choose the horizontal and vertical axis scale depending upon the minimum and maximum value of the independent and dependent variables, respectively.
(f)	Set the independent variable on the horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the vertical axis with appropriate units.

Arrange the steps in correct order.

• A. $d\to f\to e\to c\to a\to b$
• B. $a\to b\to d\to f\to e\to c$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $d\to f\to e\to c\to a\to b$

While plotting a line graph, we perform the following steps in sequence:

1. Determine the independent and dependent variables.
2. Set the independent variable on the horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the vertical axis with appropriate units.
3. Choose the horizontal and vertical axis scale depending upon the minimum and maximum value of the independent and dependent variables, respectively.
4. Use a kink if actual data is far away from the starting value zero.
5. Plot the data points.
6. Connect the data points with straight lines.

Example - The following data shows the population of rabbits in subsequent years: Year Population

2015	3
2016	5
2017	6
2018	7
2019	8
2020	9

Here, the year is an independent quantity. Hence, it is on the horizontal axis and the other variable on the vertical axis.

The minimum and maximum value of the rabbit population is 3 and 9, respectively, and the total number of data points is 6.
So the vertical axis scale can be set as 1 to 10 with an interval of 2.

On the horizontal axis, the year starts from 2015, rather than zero. Hence we use a kink to squeeze the scale between 0 - 2015.

Finally, plot the data points and connect them sequentially to obtain the following graph.