How to Make a Bar Graph for 2 Things

Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Draw the x-axis on your graph paper with a straight line. It can be as small or as large as you like, but keep the data in mind that will be placed on the x-axis and leave enough room to show all data. For example, in a bar graph comparing two children's height with age, the children's ages should be placed on the x-axis in even increments.
2

Draw the y-axis on your graph paper with a straight line. On a bar graph that compares two things, the y-axis should have enough room for two sets of data. For example, on the bar graph that compares the average height of two children, you would need to have each child's name and height measurement on the y-axis.
3

Place units of measurement and labels for the data sets along the y-axis and up the side of the x-axis. The bar graph comparing child height over a period of years should have age increments along the x-axis and height measurements along the y-axis. It should also have clear labels such as "age" across the bottom and "height" along the side to clearly indicate units of measurement.
4

Draw a bar on the y-axis to represent the first data set. For example, on a graph comparing the height of two children over a period of years, the data sets might look like this: "2 years; 3 feet, 5 inches" and "2 years; 3 feet." Draw a bar for the first set of numbers ascending from the number "2," representing the age, and up to the line on the graph paper across from the number "3" and a little above it to represent the height measurement 3 feet, 5 inches. Do the same for the second set of data, keeping the bars (representing the height measurement for the same age) close together.
5

Color each bar a different color to differentiate between the two sets of data. You may have only two bars, but you can continue to compare height at different ages by drawing two bars at each age increment. Each bar should ascend up the y-axis and stop at the appropriate number for the child's height measurement. Using two different colors will help you make a visual distinction between the two sets of data.