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Li n e Gr ap h s
Line graphs are u sed to display th e change in a set of d ata over a p erio d of time.
A m ultiple-line graph shows change in m ore th a n one category of d ata over time.
You can use a line graph to look for trends an d m ake predictions.Ex a m p l e
The data in the table below show the num ber of households, in thousands, that
have cable TV and the num ber o f household s that subscribe to new spapers in a
certain city. Graph the data.Households W ith Cable TV and Newspapers (thousands)Year 1980 1990 1995 2000 2005
Cable TV 15.2 51.9 60.5 68.6 73.9
Newspapers 62.2 62.3 58.2 55.8 53.3c/ i7T-
X 0 3 & 0 r
IIISince the data show changes over tim e for two sets of data, use a d ouble line
graph. The horizontal scale displays years. The vertical axis shows th e n u m b e r of
households for each category.
Households W ith
Cable TV and Newspapersi/i
T TO^3 ° 5 ^
l/l=3
O o
-Q^0 >
E 3
^ T■Cable TV
■Newspaper1980 1990
Year2000 2010Notice that there is a break in the vertical axis. You can use a zigzag line to indicate a
break from 0 to 15 since there is no data less th a n 15 to graph.Ex e r c i se s
Graph the data in each table.1. M a r k e t S h a r e ( p e r c e n t )Year^2004200520062007
Rap/Hip Hop 12.1 13.3 11.4 10.8
Pop 10.0 8.1 7.1 1 0. 7so u r c e: Record ing Ind ust ry o f Am erica0
PowerAlgebra.com- Percent o f Schools W ith In tern et Access
Year 1997 1999 2001 2003
Elementary 75 94 99 100
Secondary 89 98 100 100so u r c e: National Center for Education StatisticsSk i l l s H a n d b o o k 811