Scatter plots in Excel - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to select the chart type for a scatter plot in Excel.

Excel

ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddChart2(251, [1]).Select

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AxlColumnClustered

BxlXYScatter

CxlPie

DxlLine

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing a column or pie chart type instead of scatter.

Using a line chart type which connects points with lines.

The code uses xlXYScatter to create a scatter plot chart type in Excel VBA.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the formula to calculate the slope of a scatter plot trendline in Excel.

Excel

=SLOPE(B2:B10, [1])

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AB2:B10

BC2:C10

CA2:A10

DD2:D10

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Swapping x and y ranges in the formula.

Using the same range for both arguments.

The SLOPE function takes the known y-values first, then known x-values. Here, y-values are in B2:B10, so x-values must be A2:A10.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the VBA code to add a scatter plot with markers only (no lines).

Excel

With ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.Add(Left:=100, Top:=50, Width:=400, Height:=300).Chart
  .ChartType = [1]
  .SeriesCollection(1).Format.Line.Visible = msoFalse
End With

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AxlXYScatter

BxlXYScatterLinesNoMarkers

CxlXYScatterLines

DxlXYScatterSmooth

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a chart type that includes lines with markers.

Setting line visibility to True.

To show markers only with no lines, use xlXYScatter as the chart type. Setting line visibility to False hides lines.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a scatter plot with a linear trendline in VBA.

Excel

With ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.Add(Left:=50, Top:=50, Width:=300, Height:=200).Chart
  .ChartType = [1]
  .SeriesCollection(1).Trendlines.Add(Type:=[2])
End With

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AxlXYScatter

BxlLinear

CxlColumnClustered

DxlExponential

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a column chart type instead of scatter.

Choosing an exponential trendline instead of linear.

Use xlXYScatter for scatter plot and xlLinear for a linear trendline type.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to add a scatter plot, set marker style, and add a polynomial trendline of order 2.

Excel

With ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.Add(Left:=20, Top:=20, Width:=350, Height:=250).Chart
  .ChartType = [1]
  .SeriesCollection(1).MarkerStyle = [2]
  .SeriesCollection(1).Trendlines.Add(Type:=[3], Order:=2)
End With

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AxlXYScatter

BxlMarkerStyleCircle

CxlPolynomial

DxlLine

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using line chart type instead of scatter.

Choosing wrong marker style constants.

Forgetting to specify the order for polynomial trendline.

Use xlXYScatter for scatter plot, xlMarkerStyleCircle for circle markers, and xlPolynomial for polynomial trendline.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a scatter plot in Excel?

easy

A. To show the relationship between two sets of numbers using dots

B. To display data as a pie chart

C. To calculate the sum of numbers in a column

D. To sort data alphabetically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand scatter plot basics

   A scatter plot uses dots to show how two sets of numbers relate to each other.

2. Step 2: Compare options to definition

   Only To show the relationship between two sets of numbers using dots describes this correctly; others describe different chart types or functions.

3. Final Answer:

   To show the relationship between two sets of numbers using dots -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Scatter plot = relationship with dots [OK]

Hint: Scatter plots show dots for two number sets [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing scatter plots with pie charts
• Thinking scatter plots sort data
• Believing scatter plots calculate sums

2. Which of these is the correct way to insert a scatter plot in Excel?

easy

A. Select data, then go to Insert > Scatter Chart

B. Select data, then press Ctrl + S

C. Select data, then go to Home > Conditional Formatting

D. Select data, then right-click and choose Sort

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Excel menu for charts

   Scatter plots are inserted via the Insert tab under Scatter Chart options.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Ctrl + S saves, Conditional Formatting colors cells, Sort arranges data; none insert charts.

3. Final Answer:

   Select data, then go to Insert > Scatter Chart -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Insert > Scatter Chart = correct way [OK]

Hint: Use Insert tab to add scatter plots [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using save shortcut instead of chart insert
• Confusing formatting with chart insertion
• Trying to sort data to create charts

3. Given data in columns A and B: A1=1, A2=2, A3=3; B1=2, B2=4, B3=6. What pattern will the scatter plot show?

medium

A. A curve bending downward

B. A straight line showing a positive linear relationship

C. Random dots with no clear pattern

D. Dots clustered at zero

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the data pairs

   Pairs are (1,2), (2,4), (3,6). B values are double A values, showing a linear pattern.

2. Step 2: Understand scatter plot pattern

   Since B increases proportionally with A, dots form a straight line with positive slope.

3. Final Answer:

   A straight line showing a positive linear relationship -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Doubling values = straight positive line [OK]

Hint: Check if one column doubles the other for linear line [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming random scatter without checking values
• Thinking the line curves without data reason
• Ignoring proportional increase in values

4. You created a scatter plot but the dots are missing. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You forgot to save the file

B. Chart type chosen was Pie Chart instead of Scatter

C. Excel file is corrupted

D. Data selected includes empty or non-numeric cells

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify common scatter plot issues

   Scatter plots require numeric data; empty or text cells cause no dots to appear.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Pie chart would show a different chart, file corruption or saving issues don't cause missing dots specifically.

3. Final Answer:

   Data selected includes empty or non-numeric cells -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Non-numeric data = no dots [OK]

Hint: Ensure all selected data cells have numbers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing wrong chart type but expecting scatter dots
• Blaming file corruption without checking data
• Thinking saving affects chart display immediately

5. You have monthly sales data in column A and advertising spend in column B. How can you use a scatter plot to find if higher advertising spend increases sales?

hard

A. Plot sales and advertising spend both on Y-axis

B. Create a pie chart of sales percentages

C. Plot sales on Y-axis and advertising spend on X-axis to see correlation

D. Sort the data by sales before plotting

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand axes roles in scatter plots

   Independent variable (advertising spend) goes on X-axis; dependent (sales) on Y-axis to check influence.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for correct plotting

   Plotting both on Y-axis or pie chart won't show relationship; sorting data doesn't create scatter plot.

3. Final Answer:

   Plot sales on Y-axis and advertising spend on X-axis to see correlation -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Independent X, dependent Y shows correlation [OK]

Hint: Put cause on X-axis, effect on Y-axis [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Plotting both variables on same axis
• Using pie chart instead of scatter plot
• Sorting data instead of plotting relationship