Drawing Lines and Curves of Best Fit

Drawing a line or curve of best fit for the data on your graph allows you to identify any relationships
or patterns in your results.
A line or curve of best fit also allows you to predict further data, based on the pattern you identify.

How to Draw a Line of Best Fit

Start by looking at the data points and asking yourself the following questions:
• Can you see a trend or pattern easily?
• Is there any obvious correlation in the data?
• Do the points seem to make a line or are they spread out over in a big area?
• Are there any anomalous results?
If you can see a pattern in the data points and the pattern appears to be linear (straight), then
you can draw a line of best fit.
a. Use a sharp pencil and a ruler to draw a straight line.
b. The line should not join the data points together, but instead aim to have an equal amount
on either side of the line or pass through as many points as possible.
c. Ignore any anomalous results when positioning the line of best fit.
d. The line does not have to pass through the origin.

How to Draw a Curve of Best Fit

If you can see a pattern in the data but it is not linear, then you should draw a curve of best fit.
a. Use a sharp pencil to draw a smooth curve.
b. The curve does not need to join the data points together perfectly but should pass through
as many points as possible.
c. Ignore any anomalous results when positioning the line of best fit.
d. The curve does not have to pass through the origin.

1 of 4
 Drawing Lines and Curves of Best Fit

For each graph, draw a line of best fit.

40 5

30 3.75
Extension (mm)

Current (A)
20 2.5

10 1.25

0 0
0 150 300 450 600 0 1 2 3 4
Mass (g) Voltage (V)

40 190
Number of Bubbles Produced

30 180
Height (cm)

20 170

10 160

0 150
0 10 20 30 40 7 9 11 13 15
Distance from Light Source (cm) Mass (kg)
50 11

37.5
Percentage Change in Mass (%)

25 8.25
Resistance (Ω)

12.5

0 5.5

-12.5

-25 2.75

-37.5

-50 0
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 0 25 50 75 100
Length of Wire (cm)
Concentration of Sugar Solution (M)

2 of 4
 Drawing Lines and Curves of Best Fit

For each graph, draw a curve of best fit.

14 100
Volume of Carbon Dioxide

10.5 75
Produced (cm3)

Current (A)
7 50

3.5 25

0 0
0 75 150 225 300

-9

.5

5
0
25

5
75

9
5

.2

4.
.7
Time (s)

-4

2.

6.
-2
-6
Voltage (V)
40 700
Number of Confirmed Cases

30 525
Height of Plant (cm)

20 350

10 175

0 0
0 3.5 7 10.5 14 0 7.5 15 22.5 30
Day Since Planting Time (days)
100 300
Percentage of Isotope Remaining (%)

Population Size (thousands)

75 225

50 150

25 75

0 0
0 2.5 5 7.5 10 0 4.5 9 13.5 18
Number of Half-Lives Time (months)

3 of 4
 Drawing Lines and Curves of Best Fit

For each graph, decide whether to draw either a line or a curve of best fit.

110 600

82.5 450
Time Taken (s)

Time Taken (s)

55 300

27.5 150

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 20 27.5 35 42.5 50
pH of Solution Temperature (˚C)

20 240

15 180
Amount of Reactant (g)

Time (s)

10 120

5 60

0 0
0 75 150 225 300 0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16
Time Taken (s) Concentration (M)
70 90
Rate of Photosynthesis (number of
bubbles produced per minute)

52.5 67.5
Exam Score (%)

35 45

17.5 22.5

0 0
0 7.5 15 22.5 30 0 07.5 1.5 2.25 3
Light Intensity (arbitrary units) Time Spent Revising (hours)

4 of 4
 Drawing Lines and Curves of Best Fit Answers

For each graph, draw a line of best fit.

40 5

30 3.75
Extension (mm)

Current (A)
20 2.5

10 1.25

0 0
0 150 300 450 600 0 1 2 3 4
Mass (g) Voltage (V)

40 190
Number of Bubbles Produced

30 180
Height (cm)

20 170

10 160

0 150
0 10 20 30 40 7 9 11 13 15
Distance from Light Source (cm) Mass (kg)
50 11

37.5
Percentage Change in Mass (%)

25 8.25
Resistance (Ω)

12.5

0 5.5

-12.5

-25 2.75

-37.5

-50 0
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 0 25 50 75 100
Length of Wire (cm)
Concentration of Sugar Solution (M)
 Drawing Lines and Curves of Best Fit Answers

For each graph, draw a curve of best fit.

14 100
Volume of Carbon Dioxide

10.5 75
Produced (cm3)

Current (A)
7 50

3.5 25

0 0
0 75 150 225 300

-9

.5

5
0
25

5
75

9
5

.2

4.
.7
Time (s)

-4

2.

6.
-2
-6
Voltage (V)
40 700
Number of Confirmed Cases

30 525
Height of Plant (cm)

20 350

10 175

0 0
0 3.5 7 10.5 14 0 7.5 15 22.5 30
Day Since Planting Time (days)
100 300
Percentage of Isotope Remaining (%)

Population Size (thousands)

75 225

50 150

25 75

0 0
0 2.5 5 7.5 10 0 4.5 9 13.5 18
Number of Half-Lives Time (months)
 Drawing Lines and Curves of Best Fit Answers

For each graph, decide whether to draw either a line or a curve of best fit.

110 600

82.5 450
Time Taken (s)

Time Taken (s)

55 300

27.5 150

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 20 27.5 35 42.5 50
pH of Solution Temperature (˚C)

20 240

15 180
Amount of Reactant (g)

Time (s)

10 120

5 60

0 0
0 75 150 225 300 0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16
Time Taken (s) Concentration (M)
70 90
Rate of Photosynthesis (number of
bubbles produced per minute)

52.5 67.5
Exam Score (%)

35 45

17.5 22.5

0 0
0 7.5 15 22.5 30 0 07.5 1.5 2.25 3
Light Intensity (arbitrary units) Time Spent Revising (hours)