Skill: Create line plots

Explanation and Free Practice Resources

A line plot represents one-variable numerical data along a suitably scaled number line, placing one mark for each observation so that repeated values form visible frequencies. Creating and interpreting the plot requires choosing an interval that includes all data values, labeling the scale and quantity measured, and distinguishing individual observations from their counts; the scope is discrete line plots, not time-series line graphs or more advanced statistical displays such as histograms and box plots.

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Detailed Explanation: Create line plots

A line plot shows numerical data on a number line. Each observation gets one mark, and marks are stacked when values repeat.

Example: These are the numbers of pets owned by 8 students:

2,\ 1,\ 0,\ 2,\ 3,\ 1,\ 2,\ 4

1. Find the smallest and largest values

The smallest value is $0$ , and the largest value is $4$ . Therefore, the number line must include every value from $0$ through $4$ .

2. Choose and label the scale

The data use whole numbers, so count by $1$ . Label what is being measured: Number of pets.

3. Place one mark for each observation

Put a mark above the number that matches each observation. Repeated values get repeated marks:

                ●
        ●       ●
        ●       ●       ●       ●
●       ●       ●       ●       ●
0       1       2       3       4
             Number of pets

4. Check the plot

Count the marks:

$0$ pets: $1$ mark
$1$ pet: $2$ marks
$2$ pets: $3$ marks
$3$ pets: $1$ mark
$4$ pets: $1$ mark

There are $1+2+3+1+1=8$ marks, matching the $8$ observations in the data.

Learn by doing: Create line plots

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Graphing - Create Line Plot from Data (Text)

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