I am writing a math test. I have the equation editor to insert equations into
my MS Word document. Now, though, I want to insert a number line. Other than
drawing it in the drawing editor, is there a way to plug in values into Excel
and generate a number line graph?
Hi,
I copied this from a previous post by Claire Jun 26 2007.
Search this group for "Number Llne" (Claire's typo) to see other
people's ideas.
A number line is an XY (Scatter) chart with a zero length Y axis.
If each number plotted on the X axis is a separate data series with 3
values, a text value for the label, an X value for its positioning on
the X axis and a zero for the Y value, then the label can be
positioned below the plotted marker so that it lines up with the tick
mark values on the number line.
If you work through the following steps you should end up with a
number line starting at 0, ending at 1, with tick marks at every 0.1
step, values at every 0.2 step and a marker labelled 1/3 and plotted
at 0.3'.
Insert (Main menu bar)
Object...
Microsoft Excel Chart
OK
Chart (Main menu bar)
Chart Type...
Chart type:= XY (Scatter)
Chat sub-type:= markers, no line
OK
Chart (Main menu bar)
Chart Options...
Titles tab sheet
Title:= blank or suitable header
Value (X) axis:= blank or suitable footer
Value (Y) axis:= blank
Axes tab sheet
` Primary axis
Value (X) axis = tick
Value (Y) axis = no tick
Gridlines tab sheet
Deselect (no tick) all gridline options
Legend tab sheet
Show legend = no tick
Data Labels tab sheet
Label Contains
Series name = tick
X Value = no tick
Y Value = no tick
Separator:= blank
OK
Sheet1 tab (On the Chart Object)
Select and delete all data
Type the following into A1...
'1/3
(The apostrophe stops Excel converting it to Date)
Type the following into B1...
=1/3
Chart1 tab (On the Chart Object)
Chart (Main menu bar)
Source Data...
Series tab sheet
Use the Remove button to remove all series
Use the Add button to add a new series
Name:= =Sheet1!$A$1
X Values:= =Sheet1!$B$1
Y Values:= 0
OK
For Name: and X Values: you can either type them in or click the
button to the right of the text box, then the Sheet1 tab, then A1 (for
Name) or B1 (for X Values), then that button again.
NB Every point you want plotted on the Number line has to be a
separate series because the series name is used as a label.
Position the mouse pointer over the Value (X) axis. When the screen
tip pops up (little text box showing "Value (X) axis" on a pale yellow
background) double click to bring up the...
Format Axis dialog.
Patterns tab sheet
Lines = Automatic
Major tick mark type = Outside
Minor tick mark type = Outside
Tick mark labels = Next to axis
Scale tab sheet
Minimum:= 0, Auto = no tick
Maximum:= 1, Auto = no tick
Major unit:= 0.1, Auto = no tick
Minor unit:= 0.1, Auto = no tick
Value (Y) axis Crosses at:= 0
Display units:= None
Everything else = no tick
Font tab sheet
Auto scale = no tick
Everything else according to how you want the axis
font to appear
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the 1/3 label. Double click when the "1/3"
Data Labels screen tip appears to bring up the...
Format Data Labels dialog
Font tab sheet
Auto scale = no tick
Everything else according to how you want the label
font to appear.
Alignment tab sheet
Text alignment
Horizontal:= Center
Vertical:= Center
Label Position:= Below
Right-to-left
Text direction:= Context
Orientation
0 Degrees
OK
Hold the mouse pointer on the grey plot area. Double click when the
Plot Area screen tip pops up to bring up the ...
Format Plot Area dialog
Border = None
Area = None
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the 1/3 marker. Double click when the
Series "1/3" Point "0.333333333" (0.333333333,0) screen tip pops up to
bring up the...
Format Data Series dialog
Patterns tab sheet
Line = None
Marker
Style:= choose from the drop down, commonly circle for
a number
line.
Foreground:= whatever color you choose this will be
the outer or
border color
Background:= Whatever color you choose this will be
the inner or
main color. Make both colors the same
for a solid
marker.
Size:= what ever size you prefer.
Shadow = no tick
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the darker resize handle in the middle of
the top border.
When the pointer converts to a double headed up/down arrow, click and
drag down to reduce the chart's height. The fonts will not shrink when
this is done because you have deselected the Auto scale option for
both the axis and label fonts.
Can also be made an AutoText entry.
Readily reformatted to suit your needs.
Extra series can be added to show any number of values with labelled
markers.
Ken Johnson
