Creating a Histogram in Excel for Analyzing Data

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around creating a histogram in Excel to analyze data collected from a lab experiment. Participants are seeking guidance on how to properly format their data and generate the desired chart, which should display average values and standard deviations.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about starting the chart creation process in Excel and describes the desired characteristics of the chart.
  • Another participant suggests basic steps for inserting a chart and using the help menu for further assistance.
  • A participant indicates frustration after attempting to create the chart multiple times without success.
  • Further suggestions include organizing data into specific columns for the x-axis and y-axis, and using the "XY scatter" chart type.
  • One participant highlights the need for a distribution curve and clarifies the expected shape of the graph.
  • Another participant analyzes the provided data, noting that it appears to show a consistent increase in measurements, prompting questions about the experiment's methodology.
  • Participants discuss the correct way to count occurrences of specific measurements to create a frequency distribution for the histogram.
  • One participant recommends using Excel's data analysis add-in to create a histogram, explaining the steps to access and utilize this feature.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to create the histogram, as multiple suggestions and methods are presented. There is ongoing uncertainty regarding the correct organization of data and the appropriate chart type to use.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the structure of their data and how it relates to the expected output. There are also references to specific Excel features that may or may not be available to all users, which could affect the ability to create the desired histogram.

maverick99
Messages
74
Reaction score
0
For my lab i have to use my data that i recorded in excel and for that into a chart. The thing is, i have no clue where to even start. The chart is supposed to have the avg at the top of the curve and the standard deviations to the left and right of the avg. On the Y-axis is supposed to be the "Number of Operations" and on the X-axis is supposed to be x(cm). I attached the excel file on here.
Please help me!
 

Attachments

Physics news on Phys.org
To make a chart, click "Insert", "chart" and follow instruction. For the rest, try using "help" on the menu bar, type in "average" etc.
 
i already tried messing with the chart millions of times
 
Make your leftmost column, your x-axis. If by "number of operations", you mean i, put that next (this will be your y-axis). Highlight those two columns, data only, including the name of the columns. Then "insert", "chart, "XY scatter", next, next, name your axis, "as new sheet", "finish". To type something in the graph (avg, std dev etc.), type in the bar below the menu and press Enter, the text will appear in the graph.
 
i already tried doing that. I'm supposed to have a distribution curve thing for the graph. So the top most peak will be my avg and it will look like an upside down V.
 
here's the sample model
 

Attachments

  • physics.JPG
    physics.JPG
    23.6 KB · Views: 449
Well apparently, your own data doesn't look like that. Your data tells me you measured the length of something 25 times, and that each time you measured it, it was longer than the previous time. Is that what happened? What exactly is the experiment about?
 
Gonzolo said:
Well apparently, your own data doesn't look like that. Your data tells me you measured the length of something 25 times, and that each time you measured it, it was longer than the previous time. Is that what happened? What exactly is the experiment about?

Basically had a piece of carbon paper and graph paper on the floor. We rolled a ball off the table 25 times trying to hit this line. We are supposed to measure the distance of the ball hits and graph the average and show the standard deviations.
 
Oh I see. Your columns are not right. What you need to do is count the number of "11cm" you have. You have 2, so your first row is then (11,2), then count the number of "12cm", you have 1, so (12,1). Your data points should be:

(11,2)
(12,1)
(13,1)
(14,0)
(15,0)
(16,0)
(17,2)
...
(25,3)
...
(34,1)

You'll have a small bell-curve with this, with a very high std dev..
 
  • #10
Gonzolo said:
Oh I see. Your columns are not right. What you need to do is count the number of "11cm" you have. You have 2, so your first row is then (11,2), then count the number of "12cm", you have 1, so (12,1). Your data points should be:

(11,2)
(12,1)
(13,1)
(14,0)
(15,0)
(16,0)
(17,2)
...
(25,3)
...
(34,1)

You'll have a small bell-curve with this, with a very high std dev..

OOOHHHH, ok cool! Thx a lot man! i owe ya!
 
  • #11
What you really want to do is to create a histogram of your data (frequency distribution). You can do that a few ways. Excel has a data analysis add-in that you should have. If you got to TOOLS...Add-ins and then look for Data Analysis Package and make sure there is a check mark next to it. If you don't, check it and then click OK.

Once you have the add-in you can simply go to TOOLS, Data Analysis. It will bring up a dialog box with a bunch of options, one of which is Histogram.

Once you pick that the histogram, the rest should fall out for you. If you have any problems, look up the histogram tool under the help menu.
 
  • #12
FredGarvin said:
What you really want to do is to create a histogram of your data (frequency distribution). You can do that a few ways. Excel has a data analysis add-in that you should have. If you got to TOOLS...Add-ins and then look for Data Analysis Package and make sure there is a check mark next to it. If you don't, check it and then click OK.

Once you have the add-in you can simply go to TOOLS, Data Analysis. It will bring up a dialog box with a bunch of options, one of which is Histogram.

Once you pick that the histogram, the rest should fall out for you. If you have any problems, look up the histogram tool under the help menu.

thx i will have to try this too!
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Error bars in Excel (standard deviation, standard error, percentage)
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Undergrad The Normal Distribution - Random Errors
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Which software to use to create this graph?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Undergrad Negative values for Gaussian Distribution
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Graduate Normalized differential cross section
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Confused on creating a normalized histogram (on excel)
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
15K
Graduate Individual Measurement Uncertainty vs. Standard Error of Regression
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
8K
Confused about calculating the average energy from a distribution graph
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Statistics: Standard Deviation for a Normal Distribution
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Need help with normal distribution
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K