Scatter charts

1. Scatter charts

Scatter charts are a type of mathematical chart used to display the relationship or correlation between two sets of data. They are very similar to line charts, as they chart individual values onto a chart with both a horizontal and vertical axis. However, line charts have a line connecting the points, while scatter charts do not.

2. Creating the scatter chart

When you create a scatter chart to show the relationship between data, highlight your range and create your chart from the toolbar. Change it from the chart that Google has suggested to a scatter chart and size it professionally on the dashboard.

3. Scatter chart with 3 series

In general, it is best to use a scatter chart to show the relationship between a maximum of two variables. You may want to select a different chart for three or more variables, since it can get busy.

4. Formatting your scatter chart

To format your scatter chart, double click it to bring up the Chart editor. Give it a title and display the title inside the chart using the Chart editor, since this will make your chart a little larger. Label the horizontal axis, change the font size as needed, and don't forget to consider the slant option. Also consider changing the series color, shape, and point size. You can change the series separately, but be sure your chart remains clear to the viewer.

5. Trendlines

Trendlines in Google sheets are set to None by default. They are superimposed over your data to show changes to your data in a general direction or patterns in your data. The trendlines in sheets are linear by default, but there are other types. Linear trendlines show a straight line that most closely approximates the data in your chart and work best with linear datasets. A linear trendline usually shows that something is increasing or decreasing at a steady rate. To insert a trendline, go to the Chart Editor and in the Series options, check the Trendline box. A trendline will appear for each series, as you can see with the two trendlines here.

6. Other trendlines

There are other 5 trendlines to select from; Logarithmic, when data levels increase or decrease quickly and then balance out, Polynomial, for data that fluctuates, Power, to compare measurements that increase at a specified rate, Exponential, for data that rises or falls at increasingly higher rates, and Moving average, to show a pattern or trend, as seen here. You can also have different trendlines for the different series and there are a range of formatting options for that as well.

7. Practice time!

Time to put your new skills into practice by creating your own scatter chart and adding a trendline to it.

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