Line Plot

A line plot is a simple graphical representation used to organize and display data along a number line. It is represented by dots or Xs to show the frequency of how each value appears in the data set. 

We commonly use these five types of graphs:
 

• Simple line plot: It is a simple plot where only one line is drawn. In this plot, the two variables do not depend on each other.
   
• Multiple line plots: There are usually two or more lines drawn to represent the data. 
   
• Compound line plot: In this graph, the data is separated into different types. 
   
• Vertical line plot: Vertical line plots are graphs where each data point is connected to a horizontal axis by a vertical line.
   
• Horizontal line plot:These are graphs where the horizontal line runs parallel to the surface from each data point.

When drawing a line plot, there are some properties that we need to keep in mind. These key properties are:
 

• We use a number line to plot data. It shows us the units of the graph.
   
• We use dots and Xs to represent the coordinates/ data values of the dataset.
   
• In linear plots, straight lines are used to connect the dots to show the expected magnitude between the points.
   

To create a line plot, there are a few simple steps that we need to follow:
 

• First, we draw a number line and choose a number range that will cover all the data points.
   
• We then need to label each number with the appropriate values from the dataset.
   
• Next, we plot the data. For each value in the dataset, we place a dot or an X above the corresponding number. If a number in the dataset is repeated, we stack multiple dots or Xs above the corresponding number.
   
• Finally, we read the line plot. This means we need to identify the most common and least common values, look for any patterns or gaps in the data.
   

Line plots are useful because of their ability to organize, simplify, and visualize data. 
 

• A simple representation of data: Line plots provide a clear and simple way to show data. This makes it easy for people of all ages to understand how the data is represented.
   
• Patterns can be identified easily: Line plots help identify patterns in the data, such as gaps or a group of similar data. This makes it much easier to understand the trends and relationships.
   
• Organizing data: Line plots allow us to organize data in a way that makes it easy for decision-making.
   

Line plots are easy to understand, but it can get confusing for students. So here are a few tips and tricks that students can use to master line plots.
 

Start with the basics: Try to understand what the number line is and how it works. A number line is nothing but a horizontal line where the numbers increase as you move to the right and decrease as you move to the left. It includes both positive and negative numbers extending in both directions of the number line.

Practice with small data sets: Begin practicing with small datasets and once you get comfortable move on to bigger data sets. 

Use Real-life data: Try to practice with real-life data to make plotting more engaging and to get a better understanding of how line plots work in real-life situations.
 

Line plots can be really useful when trying to follow changes over a period of time and compare changes between different points. Here are some real-world applications where we use line plots:
 

• Stock markets: Investors use line plots to track stock prices that occur over time. 
   
• Growth in population: We use line plots to track population growth in a certain area over a period of time.
   
• Monitoring heart rate: Hospitals use line plots to display any heart variation over time.