Grade 12 Advanced Functions: Types of Graphs Used in Statistics

For a considerable part of human history, data visualization was as limited as data was. Thanks to scads of information and various sciences about economics, demographics, and so forth, representing data visually became more critical. Grade 12 advanced functions are about helping you to represent data in a way that it is easy to read and interpret. There are many types of graphs, each requiring different functions. The following are the ones you will likely study in the course:

Linear graphs

A linear graph is the simplest to learn. Linear functions produce it in the form, y=mx + b. Such linear functions will have first degree variables and two constants that will establish the location of the graph. You join the functions in a line. M, in the equation, is a constant that determines the slope of the line - whether it is up or down. A positive slope will have the line slope upwards, for example.

Power graphs

Power graphs flow from grade 12 advanced functions with a single term and a power. The power could be a fraction, a negative or positive. They form the equation y=axb. The graphs vary because the power will vary. A positive power, for example, will have the graph change direction. An even power will drive both edges in one direction. An odd power will have one side going down and another up.

Quadratic graphs

Quadratic graphs have the highest power as two in the equation y=ax2 + bx + c. These grade 12 advanced functions graph into parabolas. The constants c, b, and a will determine where on the graph the parabola is located. A determines the direction that it will open.

Learning about graphing will help you to illustrate data. Any information commonly represented in tables can be graphed and turned into an info graphic. That way, you can make your data easier to consume, and your audience can make more informed decisions.