LAB 5: Graphing Calculator: Storing and Plotting a List of Data

New Concept

A graphing calculator can be used to store and plot data.

What’s next

Next, you'll use specific keystrokes to enter data sets and create a scatter plot on your calculator.

Press STAT, select 1: Edit... to open the list editor. If lists L1 or L2 contain old data, highlight the list name (e.g., L1), press CLEAR, then ENTER. Enter your new data points one by one into the appropriate column, pressing ENTER after each value. This stores the data for graphing and analysis.

Press STAT -> 1: Edit... and enter the data {-5, -4, -4, -1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 7} into list L1. After filling L1, press the right arrow to move to L2 and enter the data {7, 5, 6, 3, 1, -1, -2, 2, -5}. To clear a list, use the arrow keys to highlight its name (e.g., L1) at the top and press CLEAR, then ENTER.

Think of your calculator's lists (L1, L2) as simple spreadsheets for your math homework. You'll use the STAT menu to input your $x$ and $y$ values, carefully entering each number to get them ready for graphing. It’s like setting the stage before the big show begins, ensuring all your actors are in place.

Press 2nd then Y= to open the [STAT PLOT] menu. Select a plot (e.g., Plot1) and press ENTER to turn it On. Choose the scatter plot icon for Type. Assign L1 to Xlist for your $x$-values and L2 to Ylist for your $y$-values. Finally, press GRAPH to display the plotted data points.

To plot L1 vs L2, turn Plot1 On, set Type to scatter plot, Xlist to L1, and Ylist to L2, then press GRAPH. Before plotting, press Y= and use CLEAR to remove any existing equations to ensure only your data appears. Customize your graph by selecting a different Mark (e.g., a + or dot) to change how data points display.

Now that your numbers are stored, let's make them visual! The STAT PLOT menu is your artist's toolkit, turning raw data into a picture like a scatter plot. You simply tell the calculator which list is for the horizontal ($x$) axis and which is for the vertical ($y$) axis, then hit GRAPH to see it all plotted out.

Combine your skills to plot new data sets with a twist. After entering the data into L1 and L2, configure the STAT PLOT to use L2 as the Xlist ($x$-values) and L1 as the Ylist ($y$-values). This allows you to analyze the relationship between the data sets from a different graphical perspective.

Enter the data set {5, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4} into list L1. Then, enter the corresponding data set {-8, 6, -5, -2, 1, 3, 6} into list L2. In [STAT PLOT], set Xlist to L2 and Ylist to L1 to create a scatter plot with the axes swapped as requested.

Time to put your skills to the test! This is about applying what you've learned: entering new data and then graphing it. The key challenge here is to swap the axes, making your second list (L2) the $x$-values and your first list (L1) the $y$-values. It’s a great way to see data from a different perspective!