6th Grade Math Textbook, Fundamentals

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8-10

Update your skills. See page 416 XX.

Multiple Line Graphs

Objective To use multiple line graphs •To interpret trends and make predictions from line graphs

The table at the right shows the number of dinners
that each of three new restaurants served on their
first 6 days of business. To compare the data,
represent each set of data on a line graph.

To compare the data for the three restaurants,

make a multiple line graph.

A compares related sets

of data that change over time.

To make the multiple line graph:

Write a title for the graph.

Draw a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.

List the numbers 1–6 for the days

equally spaced on the horizontal axis.

Choose a scale with a range that will fit

the data. Write the scale, starting at 0, along the vertical axis.

Choose equal intervals for the scale that will show significant

increases and decreases.

Place a point on the graph for each number of dinners served

at each restaurant at the indicated time.

• Use a line segment to connect the points for each restaurant.
  Use a different type of line or a different color for each
  restaurant.
  Make a key to explain how to identify the restaurant represented
  by each line.

multiple line graph

Number of Dinners Served

Day Pasta Plus Gail’s Grill Lu’s Lunch

150 75 80

260 90 85

365 95 75

4 75 120 60

5 75 145 55

6 80 155 55

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Pasta Plus
Gail’s Grill
Lu’s Lunch
The graph for Lu’s Lunch drops gradually. It shows
a steady decrease in number of customers.
The graph for Pasta Plus rises gradually. It shows
a steady increase in number of customers.
The graph for Gail’s Grill rises rapidly. It shows a
more dramatic increase in number of customers.
So the triple line graph shows that of the three new restaurants,
Gail’s Grillappears to be off to the best start.
The key distinguishes the
three sets of data by color.
Remember:A line graph is used to show
changes in data over a period of time.
A line segment that slopes upward
indicates an increase, while a line segment
that slopes downward indicates a decrease.
A horizontal line segment indicates no change.