Plotting Graphs from Tables

The above diagram is a values table of (x,y) coordinates. Our objective is to plot these points onto the Cartesian Plane.

If you are not familiar with plotting (x,y) points onto an X-Y Grid, then click the link below to learn about this before continuing any further.

Cartesian Plane Lesson

Steps for Plotting Graphs from Tables

To plot a graph using a values table we follow these steps:

Step 1) Write the table out as a set of (x,y) coordinates.

Step 2) Rule up an X-Y grid on graph paper.

Step 3) Plot the points onto the grid.

Step 4) If the points form a pattern, then use a ruler to join the points together.

Step 5) Extend the line to fill the grid, and add arrows to both ends.

Example Plotted Graph from Values Table

Here are Steps 1 and 2 completed for the example table shown at the very start of this lesson.

Here is step 3 completed, where we have plotted the five points onto the grid.

The five points are then connected together to make a straight line.

The final step is to extend the ends of the line and add arrows onto them.

Cartesian Plane Practice Grid

Here is a blank Cartesian Plane you can print out or Project onto a Whiteboard to practice plotting points.

Clicking the Image should take you to an 800×494 pixels grid that can be projected or printed.

That’s it for plotting points from X-Y values Tables.

In the next lesson we will look at plotting points to make a line from a “T-Table”.

(A “T-Table is a vertical version of an X-Y values Table).

Related Items

The Cartesian Plane
Plotting a Linear Graph using a Rule Equation
Plotting Graphs from T-Tables of Values
Real World Straight Line Graphs I
Real World Straight Line Graphs II

If you enjoyed this post, why not get a free subscription to our website.
You can then receive notifications of new pages directly to your email address.

Go to the subscribe area on the right hand sidebar, fill in your email address and then click the “Subscribe” button.

To find out exactly how free subscription works, click the following link:

How Free Subscription Works

If you would like to submit an idea for an article, or be a guest writer on our blog, then please email us at the hotmail address shown in the right hand side bar of this page.

If you are a subscriber to Passy’s World of Mathematics, and would like to receive a free PowerPoint of this lesson, valued at $4.99, but 100% free to you as a Subscriber, then email us at the following address:

Please state in your email that you wish to obtain the free subscriber copy of the “Plotting Points from Horizontal Values Tables” PowerPoint Presentation.

Enjoy,
Passy