Table of Contents

• Prequiz...
• 1: Logs of graphs and Graphs of logs
• 2: Method 1: log, then graph
• 3: The curvy line turned into a straight line!
• 4: To transform or not to transform?
• 5: Method 2: graph, then log
• 6: Graphing bigger (and smaller) numbers
• 7: Try it out
• 8: Just add realism
• 9: Summary

Try it out

 

year	8000 BC	1000 BC	0 AD	1000 AD	1400 AD	1750 AD	1850 AD	1950 AD	1980 AD	2000 AD
human popn. size (millions)	5	50	200	300	220	790	1260	2520	4430	6070

 

The table above contains data on human population growth over the last 10,000 years. At right, this data is plotted on an ordinary graph. Because the data spans many orders of magnitude, the graph looks kind of empty. This is a good candidate for log transformation -- can you correctly place the points for the last 3000 years on the semi-log paper below?