Definition
Graph
A graph uses positions, lengths, points, lines, or connections to represent data or a relationship.
What it means
A graph turns numbers or relationships into positions you can compare. Labels tell what each direction means, and the scale tells what each step means. A bar graph uses length, a line graph connects ordered points, and a coordinate graph places points using number pairs. Always identify the graph type before reading it.
Remember it
Numbers become positions, and positions tell a story.
Example
A line graph shows a plant’s height at the end of four weeks: 3 cm, 5 cm, 8 cm, and 10 cm. The rising points show that the plant grew each week, and the change from week 2 to week 3 is 3 cm.
Watch for
A picture with axes is not reliably readable as a graph unless the axes, units, and scale are clear.
Common mix-up
A chart usually organizes data; a graph can also show a rule or relationship between changing quantities.
Exact meaning
In this card, a graph is a statistical or coordinate representation in which positions, lengths, points, lines, or connections follow a stated scale and labelling rule to show data or relationships between quantities. The graph type determines what each mark means.