Take Log Scale For X Axis On Excel How To Read A

However, you may wish to reverse these, depending on how you want the data to appear.

However, under certain circumstances, a standard scale may not be useful.

If the data grows or decreases exponentially, then you will need to use what is called a logarithmic scale.

For example, a graph of the number of McDonalds hamburgers sold over time would start at 1 million in 1955; then 5 million just a year later; then 400 million, 1 billion (in less than 10 years), and up to 80 billion by 1990.

You need to understand that a logarithmic scale has a different system of displaying the numbers, which are not evenly spaced as on a standard scale.

Take Log Scale For X Axis On Excel How To Read A

By knowing how to read a logarithmic scale you can more effectively read and represent data in graphic form.

Graphs that represent rapidly growing data can use one-log scales or two-log scales.

The difference is in whether both the x-axis and y-axis use logarithmic scales, or only one.

If numbers on one axis or the other grow or decrease exponentially, you may wish to use a logarithmic scale for that axis.

Some data needs to be graphed on standard paper only, some on semi-log graphs, and some on log-log graphs.

On a standard graph, the function appears as a sideways parabola, but the detail for very small numbers is difficult to see.

Studies of evolutionary effects, for example, may be measured in thousands or millions of years and might choose a logarithmic scale for the x-axis.

Depending on the item being measured, a log-log scale may be necessary.

On a logarithmic scale graph, the evenly spaced marks represent the powers of whatever base you are working with.

The standard logarithms use either base 10 or the natural logarithm which uses the base e displaystyle e.

Instead of counting 1, 2, 3, 4 or 10, 20, 30, 40 or some other evenly spaced scale, a logarithm scale counts by powers of 10.

When specifically using based 10, you can use the term decade because it refers to a new power of 10.

That is, for example, the mark for 20 would actually be placed about 13 of the way between 10 and 100.

Therefore, if 10 is represented as the first major mark on the scale, and 100 is the second, the other numbers fall in between as follows.

Thus, the spacing between 10, 20, 30 looks like the spacing between 100, 200, 300 or 1000, 2000, 3000.

For the explanation given below, the focus will be on a semi-log graph, using a standard scale for the x-axis and a log scale for the y-axis.

Take Log Scale For X Axis On Excel Mac