Why do graphs have both solid and dotted lines?
Graphs may have both solid and dotted lines to represent different types of data or to differentiate between different variables or conditions.
1. Solid lines: Solid lines are commonly used to represent continuous data or trends. They connect data points in a straight or curved manner, indicating a continuous relationship between the variables being plotted. Solid lines are suitable for representing data that changes smoothly over time or between different points.
2. Dotted lines: Dotted lines, on the other hand, are often used to represent discontinuous or hypothetical data. They can be used to show trends that are not directly observed or to represent a projection or prediction. Dotted lines do not denote actual data points, but rather indicate an estimated or expected relationship between variables.
Furthermore, graphs may also use dotted lines to differentiate between different variables or conditions. For example, in a line graph with multiple lines, solid lines may represent one variable, while dotted lines may represent another. This helps viewers easily distinguish between the data sets and understand the relationships being depicted.
Overall, the use of both solid and dotted lines in graphs serves to visually communicate different types of data, trends, projections, or differentiate between variables or conditions being represented.