PROJECT 1: GRAPHING DATA
Example:
Consider the following data giving the inflation rates during the period from 1985 through 1994.
U.S. Inflation Rates, 1985-1994
Year / 1985 / 1986 / 1987 / 1988 / 1989 / 1990 / 1991 / 1992 / 1993 / 1994Inflation rate (Percent) / 3.8 / 1.1 / 4.4 / 4.4 / 4.6 / 6.1 / 3.1 / 2.9 / 2.7 / 2.7
General steps
· Run Excel: Left click on "Start"->"Programs"->"Microsoft Excel", you will see a window like this:
This is our worksheet with the excel menu bar at the top.
Each cell has a name given by a letter and a number: for example B4 is the cell in column B and in the 4th row.
· Input the data. Basically, you can just type years in column A and the inflation rates in column B in order.
The years are given as consecutive numbers. There is an easy technique to input these by using the command: "Fill". The concrete steps are:
o In A1 (Left click A1), type 1985, then return/enter
o Left click on A1, then left click "Edit" in the Excel menu bar, and choose "Fill"->"Series"; we get the following window:
o Choose "Columns", "Linear", Step value "1" and Stop Value "1994"
o Left click "OK"
The inflation rates are not given in a similar way, so we have to input them one by one. We end up with following window:
· Graph the data:
o Left click Chart Wizard in the menu bar,
o Choose the Chart type-"XY(Scatter)" by left clicking on it. You will see the right part showing
sub-types which looks like:
Click the last one in the first column, then click "Next".
o Choose the data range by specifying the range as "=sheet1!$A$1:$B$10",
remember to choose "Columns" in Series, and then click "Next".
Remark: If you shadow (highlight) the region of data you want to graph before you click on Chart Wizard, the range will be correct automatically; otherwise you need modify it. This is useful if you wish to graph only a certain part of your data.
o Input chart options (labels for Title, X, Y-axises etc), and then click "Next".
o In this stage, you have two options, you may either put the chart in the data sheet (option 2) or place it on a new sheet (choose option 1 and name it). We recommend option 1. After that, click "Finish", and we get a draft of the graph:
· Now we modify the graph. In this stage, you should use right click to get a menu window. Right click on the two axes to change the properties of axes. Right click on any part of the chart area to change that chart option. If you wish, you can also change the gridlines.
Remark: Always delete the "Series 1" box on the right side of the graph. This is done by clicking on the "Series 1" box and pressing "Delete." Do this before copying your graph into Word.
Remark: If you only want to change the name of axes or the title (as opposed to the properties of the axes), you can just left click on the corresponding parts on the graph. It will give you a text window, which you can edit. One reason to do this is that, when entering the original title, you cannot use the return/enter key. At this point, though, you can.
The final graph is as follows:
NOTE: To include a graph in a Word document, complete the following steps. Open Word, and make sure that the left and right margins are set at one inch, not 1.25 inches (this is done under "File->Page Setup"). Go to Excel and left-click on the graph itself. Then, go up and click on "Edit" and go down to "Copy". Go back to Word and click on "Edit" on that screen. Go down to "Paste" and the graph should appear in your Word document. You are still able to type text before and after this graph. This allows you to incorporate the graphs for your projects in with the answers to the questions in a neat and professional fashion.
Remark: When copying a graph into Word, make sure to resize the graph (this is done in Word after it has been copied, not in Excel). Your graph should not take up more than half a page. However, don't make it so small that the title or labels for the axes cannot be read.
Remark: You cannot modify a graph in Word, so make sure the graph is exactly how you want it to look before moving it into Word. To do this, use the Print Preview option. Click "File"->"Print Preview", you will see a window as follows:
This is what the graph looks like in Excel. It will look very similar in Word. It tells what the printout looks like. Here, you can use "Zoom" to change the scale of the preview. If you find something wrong, then just click "Close" to go back to Excel in order to modify it. If everything is ok, then follow the steps above to copy the graph into Word.
Hand in problem:
The numbers (in millions) of cable television subscribers in the United States for 1985-1994 are given in the following table. (source: Nielson Media Research)
Year / 1985 / 1986 / 1987 / 1988 / 1989 / 1990 / 1991 / 1992 / 1993 / 1994Subscribers / 39.9 / 42.2 / 44.9 / 48.6 / 52.6 / 54.9 / 55.8 / 56.4 / 57.2 / 60.5
· Graph the given data (using the same chart type as above) with labeled axes and print out the graph.
· Find the average rate of change in the number of subscribers from 1985 to 1990, and 1990 to 1994.
The graph and your answers should be included on the same page.