[BlindMath] When making a graph, when is it appropriate to log adjust the values on the y-axis?

[Godfrey, Jonathan]

Hi,

You use the phrasing "linear graph" which ought to mean the points lie on (roughly) straight line. I'm guessing that isn't the case though.

If that was so, then you wouldn't normally make any transformations because the relationship is already the easiest one to work with.

A log transformation only helps if the relationship is (roughly) a curve, and usually it has to be monotonic.

The way you do the actual transformation is then dependent on the software you are using. Watch out for the distinction between natural log and log base ten, which is preferred in some disciplines or contexts.

So, you'll probably need to provide a little more information to get the most help from this community. I'd probably note that your question isn't (yet) one of blindness, but I'm currently stuck in a tedious meeting so thought to get some quick feedback to you.

HTH
Jonathan

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Emily Schlenker via BlindMath
Sent: Friday, 14 February 2020 3:44 PM
To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
Cc: Emily Schlenker <eschlenker at cox.net>
Subject: [BlindMath] When making a graph, when is it appropriate to log adjust the values on the y-axis?

Hi, everyone. After passing calculus last semester with an A, I just cannot look at math the same way I used to. I am working on a graph for one of my biology labs, and it just looks weird. The handout states that we are to make a standard curve where we plot absorption values from spectrophotometry on the Y axis and different concentrations on the X axis in micrograms per milliliter. The problem is, this makes a linear graph that definitely is not a curve, and I’m wondering if it would be better to do some type of adjustment on the y-axis so that it is more user-friendly. I have seen this done on graphs before. When is it appropriate to log adjust the Y values, and how exactly is this done?
Thank you for any help.
Emily

Sent from my iPhone

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