How to plot a Supply/Demand Schedule

Question

Level 1

8 points

How to plot a Supply/Demand Schedule

I am wasting a lot of time trying to do a simple thing. I need to plot a supply/demand graph for a given price. The numbers are in three columns, with the price as the first column, then the quantity demanded and the quantity supplied as the next two columns respectively.

When I select all three columns and plot th line chart, it puts the price (the first column) on the x axis, and the number of items that are in the second and third column on the y axis.

This results in my chart basically standing on its side, and not straight up.

How can I resolve this problem?

The data looks like this:

Price Demanded Supplied
500 0 50
400 10 40
300 20 30
etc.

Any help would be appreciated

Macbook Pro 2.2GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 29, 2007 2:57 PM

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Answer 1

5-vv

Level 3

685 points

Sep 29, 2007 4:50 PM in response to althanis

Let me start by saying that what you are doing should be simple, but doing it in Numbers may be hard or perhaps impossible. The reason for this is that a typical supply/demand graph has it categorical variable, price, on the y-axis. You may notice, that while some of the chart types in Numbers occur in pairs (one categoric on x the other on y), the line chart, for some reason, does not. It only has a categoric x variety.

Perhaps there is a tricky work around. I (and others possibly) will give it some thought, but I don't think there is any need to continue thinking that you are just missing something easy.

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Answer 2

althanis Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2007 10:23 AM in response to WWJD

First of all, 5|=vv thanks for the information and encouragement.

WWJF, thank you very much for going to the trouble to investigate this matter for me. From your graphs I was greatly encouraged.

I tried to emulate the format for my data the way you have it, however, when I typed it out and I tried to create a scatter graph from it, for some reason the graph would only use the data in the lowest extreme right cell, no matter how many times I tried it.

I then decided to expand the selection, see if I could make it encompass all my data, however it would not allow me to.

Then I expanded the selection to use empty cells towards the right of the data I had typed out already. I then proceeded to input the data in the format you have in the expanded empty area that I had made as the new selection for the graph, and it worked.

Can you tell me if this is what you had to do? First create the cell area for the graph then type the information in?

I just want to make sure I am doing it the fastest way possible. But even so, thank you very much for your help, now I'll be able to progress with my assignment.

Message was edited by: althanis

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Answer 3

WWJD

Level 6

15,830 points

Sep 29, 2007 5:25 PM in response to althanis

How about this?

Regards,

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Answer 4

WWJD

Level 6

15,830 points

Sep 29, 2007 5:42 PM in response to althanis

Flipping axis':

Regards,

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Answer 5

WWJD

Level 6

15,830 points

Sep 30, 2007 10:46 AM in response to althanis

I created the data pairs then made the graph. Cannot remember if I made a line graph first (by mistake) then changed it to a scatter graph.

Regards,

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Answer 6

5-vv

Level 3

685 points

Sep 30, 2007 5:53 PM in response to althanis

If Numbers only had a option to plot lines between scatter points, WWJD would have a full workaround.

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Answer 7

althanis Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 1, 2007 12:47 PM in response to 5-vv

I'm just going to expand it to the biggest size I'll need it and draw in the lines myself. Not ideal, but it'll work. Thanks guys.

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Answer 8

althanis Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 3, 2007 3:45 PM in response to althanis

Ive been trying for a few days to mark the question as solved and your answers as helpful. However, I keep getting an error when I try, so Im just going to give up now.

Thanks guys.

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