Scatter plots in Google Sheets - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Scatter plots

Dashboard Goal

Understand the relationship between advertising spend and sales using a scatter plot.

Sample Data

Month	Advertising Spend ($)	Sales ($)
Jan	200	1500
Feb	300	1800
Mar	250	1600
Apr	400	2100
May	350	2000
Jun	500	2500

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Total Sales
  Formula: =SUM(C2:C7)
  Result: 11500
• KPI Card: Average Advertising Spend
  Formula: =AVERAGE(B2:B7)
  Result: 333.33
• Scatter Plot Chart: Advertising Spend vs Sales
  Data Range: B1:C7
  Description: Plots each month's advertising spend on the X-axis and sales on the Y-axis to see the relationship.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
| Total Sales (KPI)    | Average Ad Spend (KPI)|
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                      Scatter Plot                     |
|               Advertising Spend vs Sales              |
+-------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

Add a filter for Month to select specific months. When you choose months, the KPI cards and scatter plot update to show data only for those months.

Self Check

If you add a filter to show only months with advertising spend above $300, which components update and how?

• KPI Cards: Total Sales and Average Advertising Spend recalculate based on filtered months.
• Scatter Plot: Displays only points for months where advertising spend is above $300.

Key Result

Scatter plot dashboard showing how advertising spend relates to sales with KPIs for total sales and average spend.

Practice

1. What does a scatter plot primarily show in Google Sheets?

easy

A. The relationship between two sets of numbers

B. The total sum of a data column

C. The average value of a dataset

D. The frequency of a single number

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand scatter plot purpose

   A scatter plot displays points representing pairs of values from two data sets.

2. Step 2: Identify what it shows

   It shows how two variables relate or if there's a pattern between them.

3. Final Answer:

   The relationship between two sets of numbers -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Scatter plot = relationship between two data sets [OK]

Hint: Scatter plots compare two data sets visually [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it shows totals or averages
• Confusing with bar or pie charts
• Assuming it shows frequency counts

2. Which menu option do you use in Google Sheets to insert a scatter plot?

easy

A. Tools > Script editor

B. Data > Pivot table

C. Format > Conditional formatting

D. Insert > Chart

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate chart insertion

   Scatter plots are created by inserting a chart from the Insert menu.

2. Step 2: Choose correct menu path

   Insert > Chart opens chart options including scatter plot type.

3. Final Answer:

   Insert > Chart -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Insert menu > Chart for scatter plots [OK]

Hint: Insert menu always has chart options [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing Data or Format menus instead
• Looking for scatter plot outside Insert menu
• Confusing with script editor tools

3. Given data in columns A and B, what will the scatter plot show if column A has values 1, 2, 3 and column B has values 2, 4, 6?

medium

A. A horizontal line at value 3

B. Points forming a straight line showing a doubling pattern

C. Random scattered points with no pattern

D. A vertical line at value 2

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze data pairs

   Pairs are (1,2), (2,4), (3,6) showing B is double A.

2. Step 2: Understand scatter plot pattern

   Points will align on a straight line with slope 2, showing doubling.

3. Final Answer:

   Points forming a straight line showing a doubling pattern -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Scatter plot shows linear doubling pattern [OK]

Hint: Look for simple numeric relationships in pairs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming points are random
• Confusing line directions
• Thinking it forms horizontal or vertical lines

4. You created a scatter plot but it shows all points in a straight vertical line. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. Y data column has identical values, X varies

B. Both X and Y data columns have the same values

C. X data column has identical values, Y varies

D. Data contains text instead of numbers

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand vertical line in scatter plot

   A vertical line means all X values are the same, Y values differ.

2. Step 2: Identify cause from options

   X data column has identical values, Y varies states X data identical, Y varies, matching the vertical line cause.

3. Final Answer:

   X data column has identical values, Y varies -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical line = same X values [OK]

Hint: Vertical line means X values don't change [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking identical Y values cause vertical line
• Assuming text data causes vertical line
• Confusing vertical with horizontal line causes

5. You want to compare sales and advertising spend for 12 months using a scatter plot in Google Sheets. Which steps correctly create this scatter plot?

hard

A. Select sales and advertising columns, then Insert > Chart, choose Scatter chart type

B. Select sales column only, then Insert > Chart, choose Scatter chart type

C. Select advertising column only, then Insert > Chart, choose Line chart type

D. Select sales and advertising columns, then Insert > Chart, choose Pie chart type

Solution

1. Step 1: Select both data columns

   Scatter plots need two sets of data to compare, so select sales and advertising columns.

2. Step 2: Insert scatter chart

   Go to Insert > Chart and choose Scatter chart type to plot the relationship.

3. Final Answer:

   Select sales and advertising columns, then Insert > Chart, choose Scatter chart type -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Select two columns + Scatter chart = correct plot [OK]

Hint: Always select both data sets before inserting scatter chart [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting only one column
• Choosing wrong chart type like pie or line
• Not selecting data before inserting chart