Plotting a standard curve graph.,,

[help-me-please]

On the y axis I'm plotting refractive index points going from a range of 1.51467 to 1.52381

I've never had to plot numbers so big, how do I work this? How do I make my graph go up in neat consistent numbers starting from 0? I don't have enough boxes on my grid and I can't start on my graph at 1.51467!

Help x

[scotman]

how many data points do you need to plot?

[help-me-please]

Six x

[Buenchico]

Starting from 0 is total madness!

Your y axis should run from 1.514 to 1.524, split into 10 (i.e. 1.514, 1.515, 1.516, . . . , 1.524).

Chris

[scotman]

start the Y axis at 1.510 and end it at 1.525. Position points as best you can. If you have 1cm paper the Y-axis range will be 15cm.

[help-me-please]

I remember when I started doing graphs and I once didnt start at 0, I was marked down for this. I shall do it this way however. Thanks. x

[help-me-please]

Thanks scotsman...

I'll do that! :) x

[New Judge]

Chris’s and scotman’s advice (not to scale your graph from zero) is generally good, but it should come with a health warning. If you do scale it from zero the range of your values is so small (the highest is only about 0.6% bigger than the lowest) that your graph would appear almost flat. However, you might want t demonstrate to the users just that – that there is very little variation in the values and a flat graph would show that. On the other hand your users may expect the variations to be quite small and may be interested in the variations within the range.

Always think about what you are trying to demonstrate and what your audience wants to learn before deciding how to best present your graph. When looking at graphs which you have not constructed always beware of those that do not start at zero!

[factor-fiction]

The usual practice when not starting an axis from zero is to start at 0 but then include a zigzag line to the first value -say 1.51 in your case.
Again, just look at a few graphs in text books or on the web