Scatter Plot vs Line Graph: What’s the Difference

What is a Scatter Plot?

A scatter plot also known as a scatter graph or chart involves spots (dots) to address values for two distinct numeric factors for a data set or to notice connections between factors. The connections noticed can either be positive or negative, non-direct or straight, as well as solid or powerless.

The information is shown as an assortment of points. Dots permit design distinguishing proof while checking out the information comprehensively. The situating of the dots on horizontal and vertical axis will educate the worth regarding the individual item. Each point having the worth of one variable deciding the situation on the x-axis and the worth of the other variable deciding the situation on the y-axis.

 Scatter Plot Example:  

Example 1- Juice corner can monitor how much glasses juice they sell versus the early afternoon temperature on that day to check whether hotter weather conditions prompts more sales.

To draw a scatter plot, we have to choose two sections from an information table, one for each element of the plot. One row for the sales and another for the temperature and likewise we could put  the  sales value on the x-axis and temperature on the y-axis. Each line of the table will turn into a dot in the  plot  with position as indicated by the section values. Now you can easily interpret your data according to the scatter plot drawn by studying  correlation between two variables.

Example 2-  Another example is a scatter plot showing how much rest is required each day by age, where age is estimated along the x-axis and the hours are estimated on y-axis.

As you will see when you plot this, as you become older, you want less rest (yet presumably more than you’re as of now). This is a negative relationship. As we move along the x-pivot toward the more noteworthy numbers, the focus drops down which implies the y-values are diminishing, making this a negative relationship.

Correlation Classification:

Scatter plots can be classified into the following categories on the basis of the correlation:

  • Positive Correlation

A scatter plot with expanding upsides of the two factors has a positive connection.

  • Negative Correlation

A scatter plot with an expanding worth of one variable and a diminishing incentive for one more factor has a negative connection.

  • Null Correlation

A scatter plot with no unmistakable expanding or diminishing pattern in the upsides of the factors is said to have no connection.

Benefit:

By knowing which components of your data are connected and the way that they are connected, you will know what to control and what to fluctuate to influence a quality feature.

When to use Scatter Plot?

  • When you have enormous information, Scatter charts are very helpful in addressing the connection between data, distinguishing peculiarities in the information all the more effectively as well as the general pattern. The strength of any relationship can likewise be pictured.
  • Most people find this chart simple to plot and comprehend.
  • Scatter plot essential uses are to notice and show connections between two numeric factors.It can be utilized either when one nonstop factor is heavily influenced by the experimenter and the other relies upon it or when both constant factors are autonomous.
  • A scatter plot is likewise extremely helpful when we wish to perceive how two practically identical informational indexes consent to show nonlinear connections between factors.
  • The spots in a scatter plot not just report the upsides of individual items, yet in addition designs when the information is taken.

What is a Line graph?

Line diagrams are utilized to show the adjustment of a connection between two factors over a type of persistent information like distance, or most frequently, time. It maps quantitative dependent or independent variables. Whenever the two factors are quantitative, the line portion that associates two focuses on the chart communicates a slant, which can be described as a mathematical exact formula or visually explained by the slope of the other lines.

Focuses are plotted similarly as one would for a scatter graph however at that point consolidated in the grouping.

Line Graph Example:

Line graphs are best when you need to show how the benefit of something changes after some time, or analyze how a few things change over the long haul compared with one another.

Days, weeks and months can be plotted on x-axis while revenue could be on y-axis. Information focuses are plotted and all dots are joined in fashion to form a line.

The table given below shows daily deals in RM of various classifications of things for five days.

DayMonTuesWedThursFri
Drinks300450150400650
Food400500350300500

Line graph for this data constructed will be like this

Line Graph Example

When to use line graph?

Specialists utilize a line chart to identify the nature of relationship between data sets rather than confirming whether the relationship exists or not. These charts can be utilized to see the venture made by a geological element over the long haul or distance which can be valuable for making an account around a geological thought. Whenever you hear that key expression “over the long haul,” that is your sign to consider utilizing a line diagram for your information.

What is Difference Between Line Graph and Scatter Plot?

Picking some unacceptable graph type for your information can undoubtedly happen with regards to line and scatter chart. They look practically the same but there is a major contrast in the manner every one of these outline types plots information. With a scatter plot, the choice is made that the singular focus ought not to be associated straightforwardly along with a line however, rather expresses a pattern.

Comparison Between Line Graph and Scatter plot

Scatter plotLine Graph
The scatter plot has more informative items. The scatter plot can resemble a haze of specks, yet crude information can be deciphered by checking out the general thickness of the items.The line graph has moderately a couple of important elements, all associated in a consistent line, showing relationships between the two boundaries and giving a decent visual feeling of what direction the information is moving.
It’s great for showing connections and affiliations.The diagram utilizes a line to interface key information guides relative toward a predefined time.
Most appropriate in picturing enormous and complex informational collections.Shortcoming of the Line Chart is the way that it can’t deal with massive and complex information.

Conclusion

It’s very difficult to argue about which graph benefits outweigh the other as both can be used for different circumstances for different data sets and purposes .

Use a scatter plot if you have explicit mathematical capacities, information that has more than one bunch of values, indicate designs on a huge size of information, and do not have any desire to consider time factors while looking at huge arrangements of items.

The more informational collections you embed in a scatter plot, the better examination you can get. On the other hand use line charts when you have information of explicit time stretch and need to distinguish the idea of connection between data sets.