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How to Graph a Scatter Plot on the Ti83

Graphing by hand is a painstaking and often tedious process. It asks first that you locate each of your data points on the graph according to its x- and y-coordinate. For example, if your data point is (-1,3), you know that this data point is one unit to the left of zero on the x-axis and three units up from zero on the y-axis. You then must use a pencil or pen to carefully mark or otherwise label this point on your paper graph. Graphing calculators like the Texas Instruments TI family of calculators, including the TI-83, simplify and accelerate the graphing process. Learn how to easily make a scatter plot using your TI-83.

Instructions

- 1
  Press the "STAT" button. Press 1. Press the blue right-arrow button twice. Press the blue up-arrow button once.
- 2
  Press the "CLEAR" button. Press the "ENTER" button.
- 3
  Type the first value in your first set of points then press "ENTER." For example, type 1 and press "ENTER."
- 4
  Type the first value in your second set of points then press "ENTER." For example, type 3 and press "ENTER."
- 5
  Type the first value in your third set of points then press "ENTER." For example, type 5 and press "ENTER." Continue adding the first values of your points until you have entered all of them.
- 6
  Press the blue right-arrow button. Press the blue up-arrow button until the column heading "L2" is highlighted. Press "CLEAR." Press "ENTER."
- 7
  Type the second value in your first set of points then press "ENTER." For example, type 3 and press "ENTER."
- 8
  Type the second value in your second set of points then press "ENTER." For example, type 7 and press "ENTER."
- 9
  Type the second value in your third set of points then press "ENTER." For example, type 11 and press "ENTER." Continue adding the second values in your sets of points until you have entered all of them.
- 10
  Press the yellow "2nd" button. Press the "Y=" button immediately above the "2nd" button. Type 1. Press "ENTER." This turns on your plot.
- 11
  Press the blue down-arrow button. Press the blue left-arrow button twice. Press "ENTER." This will tell your TI-83 to make a scatter plot graph.
- 12
  Press the blue down-arrow button. Press the yellow "2nd" button. Type 1. This will tell your TI-83 to use hollow squares to mark your data points on the graph. The other options are plus signs and points.
- 13
  Press the blue down-arrow button. Press the yellow "2nd" button. Type 2. This will tell your TI-83 to use the values in your first list as your plot's x-values.
- 14
  Press the blue down-arrow button. Press the blue left-arrow button twice. Press "ENTER." This will tell your TI-83 to use the values in your second list as your plot's y-values.
- 15
  Press the "ZOOM" button at the top of the keypad. Type 9. This will tell your TI-83 to set the axes of the graph for a scatter plot. Read the scatter plot you have graphed on your TI-83 graphing calculator.

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