What Is A Scatter Plot Chart in Google Sheets?
Scatter plots are graphs which are used to plot two sets of data points in a x-y plane to make it easy for users to identify correlations. With scatter plots, we understand how events influence different values within the dataset. It helps identify outliers and weak spots in analysis. Scatter plots are useful for business analysts to show insights into relationships between various business metrics. These plots can be done in a simple manner using Google Sheets.
As seen below, the scatter plot is a graphical representation that displays data points on a two-dimensional graph. Each point represents an observation of two variables, one on the X axis and the other on the Y axis. Scatter plots help understand patterns, trends, and correlations between variables, making them a useful tool for data analysis.
Key Takeaways
- Scatter plots in Google Sheets can be used to find out how much one variable is affected by another. It is a graphical representation that displays data points on x- and y-axis graph
- Scatter charts show the various coordinates along the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) axes.
- Scatter plots help understand patterns, correlations, and trends between two variables. Hence, they are very useful in data analysis.
- Scatter plots can also display multiple levels of data which is not possible with other chart types.
How to Create a Scatter Plot in Google Sheets?
Creating scatter plots are a straightforward task in Google sheets provided you have your dataset ready. To insert a scatter plot in Google Sheets, follow these steps:
Step 1: Highlight the columns of your data, including the header row.
Step 2: Click the Insert menu in the top menu. Select Chart from the drop-down list.
Step 3: Google Sheets might display a different chart by default. Let us change it by following these simple steps.
In the Chart editor that appears on the right side, you must click on the Chart type dropdown.
Choose Scatter chart after scrolling down from the available options.
The scatter plot will appear on the sheet, displaying the data points according to the values provided.
Step 4: Customizing the Scatter Plot
One can customize the scatter plot based on requirements. The Chart editor panel has several options to change the appearance of a scatter plot.
Under Customize, we have:
Chart style: To change the plot’s background color, font, and appearance.
Series: Modify the point shape, size, and color for each data series. In this example, as shoen in the image below, we have modified the color of the dots to red.
Chart & axis titles: Edit the chart title, axis titles, and their appearances.
Check the result below.
How to Add a Trendline to a Scatter Chart in Google Sheet?
Let us look at how to add a trendline to a scatter plot in Google sheets. A trendline is basically a line that helps one understand the general direction taken or the pattern of the data points in the chart. It highlights the correlations between the variables and can be used to predict trends.
When creating a trendline in Google Sheets, you will follow these steps:
Step 1: Open a spreadsheet and enter your data. Here, we enter the amount spent on advertising a product vs the sales. Now, highlight your data.
Step 2: Go to Insert > Chart. Choose the chart type as Scatter Plot in the Chart Editor that appears on the right.
Step 3: You get a scatter plot,
Step 4: Go to Customize > Series. Click on Trendline.
Tick the Trendline box at the bottom of the Series section.
You get your trendline for the chart. The linear trendline is a straight line that best fits the data. It’s useful when there’s a linear relationship between the x and y variables.
Examples
To create a scatter plot in Google Sheets is a pretty straightforward idea. Here are a few examples of how to create a scatter plot using different types of data:
Example #1
In this example, we have a dataset that tracks the number of hours of test practise and the test scores of a student. Let us plot these two variables on a scatter plot.
Step 1: Enter the data in a Google Sheet as shown below. We enter the Hours of test practise in Column A and the test score in Column B.
Now, select the range of data you want to plot and make sure you select both columns, including the header.
Step 2: Go to the menu and click on Insert > Chart. Google Sheets automatically suggests a chart type based on the given data, but change it to a scatter plot.
In the Chart Editor on the right side, go to the Setup tab. Under Chart type, select Scatter chart.
The data will appear on a scatter plot, with “Hours of test practise on the x-axis and “Test Score” on the y-axis.
Example #2 – Scatter Plot with Multiple Series
In this example, we will create a scatter plot with multiple variables. Here, we enter the information regarding Money Spend on Advertising vs Sales vs Online Ads, Let us compare two sets of series; Sales vs Money Spend on Advertising and Sales vs. Online ads.
Step 1: Enter the data in a spreadsheet as shown below. Select the data including the headers.
Step 2: Go to Insert > Chart. Choose the chart type as Scatter Plot in the Chart Editor that appears on the right. You get a chart as shown below.
Step 3: Under the Setup section, you can edit the data ranges to represent each pair of data points as a separate series (e.g., one for advertising vs. sales, and one for sales vs. Online ads).
This is an excellent example of Google Sheets scatter plot multiple series.
Important Things To Note
- Scatter plots help find patterns, trends, and potential correlations between the supplied data variables.
- In a scatter plot, the horizontal axis represents the independent variable, and the vertical axis represents the dependent variable.
- The pattern of points can indicate a positive, negative, or no correlation.
- Adding trend lines can help visualize the overall trend in the data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Scatter plots in Google sheets have some key differences when compared to other types of charts:
Scatter plots are useful for identifying patterns, trends, or outliers in the given data. Unlike bar or line graphs that mainly depict changes or trends over time, scatter plots help find patterns.
Another advantage of scatter plots is that we can display the relationship between two variables which is not possible in other chart types, such as pie charts or bar graphs.
Scatter plots can also display multiple levels of data offering a comprehensive view of complex datasets. Most other chart types can depict a single layer of information.
While scatter plots help identify trends in the data, we use trendlines to understand how two numerical variables are related to each other. By drawing the trendline, we can detect any correlation between the two variables, be it positive or negative, and the strength of that relationship. To draw a trend line in Google Sheets, select the data, choose scatter plot, and tick the Trendline box under Customize -> Series.
Scatter plots can be plotted with multiple series as well. Ensure that when you select the data range, you include multiple columns.
After choosing a scatter plot, in the Chart Editor, under Setup, you can add more series in the Series section by clicking on Add Series.
Each series will appear as a different color or shape in the scatter plot.
Download Template
This article must help understand Scatter Plot in Google Sheets with its formulas and examples. You can download the template here to use it instantly.
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