{"id":4192,"date":"2013-06-27T21:07:11","date_gmt":"2013-06-27T21:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=4192"},"modified":"2026-03-28T11:27:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T16:27:56","slug":"line-graph","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/line-graph\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Line Graph"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_gXeoLTz1AqM\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_gXeoLTz1AqM\" data-source-videoID=\"gXeoLTz1AqM\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"How to Create a Line Graph Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"How to Create a Line Graph\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_gXeoLTz1AqM:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_gXeoLTz1AqM {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/updated-how-to-create-a-line-graph-64a87d70d1ace.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_gXeoLTz1AqM\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_gXeoLTz1AqM\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"How to Create a Line Graph\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_gXeoLTz1AqM\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_gXeoLTz1AqM\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_gXeoLTz1AqM\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction 0Vx_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"0Vx\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"0Vx_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"0Vx\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#What_is_a_Line_Graph\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">What is a Line Graph?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#How_to_Make_a_Line_Graph\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">How to Make a Line Graph<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Line_Graph_Practice_Questions\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Line Graph Practice Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label><input id=\"PQs\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQs\">Practice<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Hey guys. Welcome to this Mometrix video on how to plot a <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/graphing-linear-equations\/\">line graph<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_is_a_Line_Graph\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What is a Line Graph?<\/h2>\n<p>\nFirst things first. What is a line graph? A line graph is a type of chart that helps you to visualize the relationship between two variables. Most often it is the rate of change over time.<\/p>\n<p>You may also have multiple sets of data graphed on one line graph if the same two variables are related.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_Make_a_Line_Graph\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>How to Make a Line Graph<\/h2>\n<p>\nSo now, how do you actually make a line graph?<\/p>\n<p>Well, first start by drawing a cross on your paper or whatever you are writing on. The two separate lines represent your \\(x\\) and \\(y\\) axes. The \\(x\\) axis is the line that runs horizontally, and the \\(y\\) axis is the line that runs vertically. Always label your axes!<\/p>\n<p>Next, you need to identify which portion of your data goes on which axis.<\/p>\n<p>So like in this set of data, which column would go on which axis?<\/p>\n<table class=\"ATable\" style=\"margin: auto;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"height: 44px;\">\n<th style=\"line-height: 16px; vertical-align: middle;\">Time (months)<\/th>\n<th style=\"line-height: 16px; vertical-align: middle;\">Height of tree (inches)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td>24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td>31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3.5<\/td>\n<td>34<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td>37<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td>50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7<\/td>\n<td>55<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>9<\/td>\n<td>73<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>12<\/td>\n<td>101<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nYour <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/identifying-variables\/\">independent variable<\/a> should always be on the \\(x\\)-axis, and your dependent variable should always be on your \\(y\\)-axis.<\/p>\n<p>Often times when working with graphs the data you are given is dealing with the rate at which something changes over time. Well, this makes it easier for you to identify your dependent and independent variables. Because time is always independent. You can\u2019t do anything to affect time. You\u2019re constrained by it.<\/p>\n<p>However, like with our data in this case, we can affect the growth of a tree within a given amount of time by manipulating certain variables like soil, fertilizer, catalysts\u2019, temperature, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>So, for this set of data we know that time is our independent variable, so it goes on the \\(x\\)-axis, and the \u201cheight of the tree\u201d is our dependent variable, so it goes on the \\(y\\)-axis.<\/p>\n<p>I hope that this video was helpful.<\/p>\n<p>See you next time!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"PQs-spoiler\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align:center\"><span id=\"Line_Graph_Practice_Questions\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Line Graph Practice Questions<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Question #1:<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nMarco recorded the temperature in his city on the first day of every month. He wanted to create a line graph with the data, but he is unsure where to place each variable. Which statement below shows the correct location for each variable? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ-Choices\"><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-1-1\">Place the month on the \\(y\\)-axis and the temperature on the \\(x\\)-axis. <\/div><div class=\"PQ correct_answer\"  id=\"PQ-1-2\">Place the month on the \\(x\\)-axis and the temperature on the \\(y\\)-axis. <\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-1-3\">It does not matter which variable is placed on which axis, either one will work. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-1\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-1\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Show Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"answer\" id=\"PQ-1-spoiler\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Answer:<\/strong><div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>In this scenario, the temperature is <em>dependent<\/em> on which month it is. Therefore, the temperature is the dependent variable and the month is the independent variable. In a line graph, the independent variable is placed on the \\(x\\)-axis, and the dependent variable is placed on the \\(y\\)-axis.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Line-graph-example-1.svg\" alt=\"A simple graph illustrates the x-axis labeled as independent variable and y-axis labeled as dependent variable, with arrows indicating each axis direction.\" width=\"392\" height=\"226\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-275464\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-1-hide\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-1-hide\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Hide Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Question #2:<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nA biologist has been studying the hippo population near a small village in Tanzania. Based on the line graph below, what is the difference between the hippo population from 2024 to 2027?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Line-graph-example-2.svg\" alt=\"A line graph shows hippo population increasing steadily from 10 in 2023 to 35 in 2027, with data points marked for each year.\" width=\"737\" height=\"520\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-275467\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ-Choices\"><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-2-1\">An increase of seven hippos. <\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-2-2\">A decrease of seven hippos. <\/div><div class=\"PQ correct_answer\"  id=\"PQ-2-3\">An increase of eight hippos. <\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-2-4\">A decrease of eight hippos. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-2\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-2\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Show Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"answer\" id=\"PQ-2-spoiler\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Answer:<\/strong><div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>The number of hippos in 2024 was 26, and the number of hippos in 2027 was 34. The difference can be calculated by subtracting 26 from 34. The line graph shows an increase of eight hippos from 2024 to 2027.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-2-hide\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-2-hide\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Hide Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Question #3:<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe graph below shows the distance traveled by a bus during one school day. What does the highlighted region from Hour 1 to Hour 2 indicate?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Line-graph-example-6.svg\" alt=\"Line graph showing miles traveled over 8 hours; resting period highlighted in yellow between hours 2 and 3 at 4 miles.\" width=\"737\" height=\"494\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-275479\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ-Choices\"><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-3-1\">Time was passing, and the bus was slowing down gradually.<\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-3-2\">Time was speeding up and the bus was slowing down. <\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-3-3\">Time was passing, and the speed of the bus was increasing. <\/div><div class=\"PQ correct_answer\"  id=\"PQ-3-4\">Time was passing, but distance was not increasing. The bus was not moving. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-3\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-3\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Show Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"answer\" id=\"PQ-3-spoiler\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Answer:<\/strong><div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>The flat line indicates that time is continuing to pass, but the line does not raise up, which indicates that distance is not increasing from Hour 1 to Hour 2. This tells us that the bus is not moving.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-3-hide\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-3-hide\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Hide Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Question #4:<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nDiego is creating line graphs for a math project. He has created the graph below, but the titles for the \\(x\\)&#8211; and \\(y\\)-axis were accidentally deleted. Which option below is the most logical match for the \\(x\\)&#8211; and \\(y\\)-axis, based on the information that is displayed? <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Line-graph-example-4.svg\" alt=\"Line graph showing data points rising from 43 at 1 to 67 at 6, with values fluctuating between 50 and 59 from points 2 to 5.\" width=\"376.81\" height=\"341.53\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-275473\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ-Choices\"><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-4-1\">Temperature on the \\(x\\)-axis and Number of Cars on the \\(y\\)-axis.<\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-4-2\">Hours on the \\(y\\)-axis and Money Earned on the \\(x\\)-axis <\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-4-3\">Body Weight on the \\(x\\)-axis and Age on the \\(y\\)-axis. <\/div><div class=\"PQ correct_answer\"  id=\"PQ-4-4\">Temperature on the \\(y\\)-axis Month of the Year on the \\(x\\)-axis.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-4\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-4\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Show Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"answer\" id=\"PQ-4-spoiler\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Answer:<\/strong><div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>The most realistic match would be to place temperature on the \\(y\\)-axis, and month of the year on the \\(x\\)-axis. The graph shows gradual temperature shifts from day to day, and a slow increase of temperature from month to month (except between Month 2 and Month 3, where there is a slight decrease). The other scenarios have little relevance to the data points that are displayed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-4-hide\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-4-hide\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Hide Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Question #5:<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nHow many years did it take for the world\u2019s population to grow from two billion to three billion people?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Line-graph-example-5.svg\" alt=\"Line graph showing world population growth from 1804 to 2024, rising from 1 billion to 8 billion, with data points labeled for major years.\" width=\"751\" height=\"528\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-275476\"  role=\"img\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"PQ-Choices\"><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-5-1\">11 years<\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-5-2\">44 years<\/div><div class=\"PQ\"  id=\"PQ-5-3\">22 years<\/div><div class=\"PQ correct_answer\"  id=\"PQ-5-4\">33 years<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-5\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-5\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Show Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"answer\" id=\"PQ-5-spoiler\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Answer:<\/strong><div style=\"margin-left:10px;\"><p>The world\u2019s population was two billion people in the year 1927 and three billion people in the year 1960. This is an increase of one billion people, occurring over 33 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input id=\"PQ-5-hide\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"PQ-5-hide\" style=\"width: 150px;\">Hide Answer<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/geometry\/\">Return to Geometry Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Geometry Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":183296,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-4192","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-pre-algebra-displaying-information-videos","7":"page_category-graph-videos","8":"page_category-math-advertising-group","9":"page_type-video","10":"content_type-practice-questions","11":"subject_matter-math"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4192"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":281543,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4192\/revisions\/281543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/183296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}