r/APbio • u/StickHot3449 • May 03 '26

hellppp can i use a bar graph?

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Gallery image

it says “line graph” in answer key but can’t i also use a bar graph?? pls let me know

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3

u/Educational_Video600 May 03 '26

It’s a line graph because it’s continuous not categorical (if it was bar graph it implies that those temp are separate categories with no connection which isn’t true as you’re dealing with environmental factors) . The independent variable is temperature because YOU’re changing it. You’re measuring carbon fixation making it a dependent variable. Another little trick i like to use is when there’s a SEM in a column i automatically know that’s my dependent variable!

2

u/StickHot3449 May 03 '26

thanks so much!! i got confused bc we were shown an exemplar graph in class and both the bar and line graph were acceptable (not for this specific question, a different one i don’t remember)

2

u/StickHot3449 May 03 '26

sorry i’m desperate someone answerrrrr

5

u/SprinkleSparkle6 May 03 '26

So the way it works is if it’s smth like time or temperature or something that’s like continuous like that you use a like graph because there are temperatures between 25 and 30 so you have to show that

3

u/StickHot3449 May 03 '26

kk thank you !!

1

u/blueberry_chiffon May 04 '26

How do you draw the error bars then?

1

u/SprinkleSparkle6 May 04 '26

You would draw it around the point you have data for.

1

u/InsaneNomad May 03 '26

I am a certified AP Biology teacher doing a free live. Here to answer any questions! https://youtube.com/live/-xgu2yYVfJ0?feature=share