Real-Life Graphs – GCSE Mathematics (Higher) OCR Revision

Understanding Real-Life Graphs

Distance-time graphs: Help to visualise how an object moves over a period of time. The slope of the graph at any given point is equal to the speed of the object at that time. A horizontal line indicates the object is stationary.
Speed-time graphs: Show how the speed of an object changes over time. The area under the graph represents the distance covered by the object.
Frequency graphs: Show the distribution of a data set. Often used to represent statistical data such as test scores or population demographics.
Conversion graphs: Used to convert values from one unit to another. For example, converting miles to kilometres or pounds to dollars.
Bar or column graphs: Used to compare the size of different groups. Often used in sales or statistics to compare data.

Ensure you understand what the graph is representing; look at the labels on the axes and the title of the graph.
Identify any trends or patterns in the data. Look at the general direction of the graph, and note any outliers or spikes.
Be able to calculate gradients, areas under the curves, and explain what these values represent in the context of the graph.
Use the information from the graph to draw conclusions or make predictions.

Before sketching a graph, determine what your variables are. Decide which is your independent variable (usually plotted on the x-axis) and which is your dependent variable (plotted on the y-axis).
Plot the points on the graph accurately and label the axes clearly.
Use a suitable scale on the graph to allow for accurate reading and interpretation of data.

Real-life graphs are crucial in many different fields, from physics to economics to social science.
Understanding real-life graphs can help make sense of the world around us, from analysing climate change data, understanding population growth rates, predicting sales trends in business, monitoring heart rates in medicine, to tracking progress in a fitness plan.

Reflect on the information, apply it in context, and ensure your conclusions logically stem from the data given.