Graphs in It

Graphs in Information Technology

Survey of Mathematics

2012

Information Technology (computer technicians) is one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy — with a projected growth-rate increase of 38 percent between 2006 and 2016 and many opportunities for workers to advance. Not only do IT-specific companies make up their own business sector, but IT also is a critical component in the success of companies across all industries. This ever-changing environment makes it difficult to identify the specific mathematical content in job skills for individual IT positions; in fact, many IT jobs require few particular mathematical skills. Significant developments in the IT realm, including web-based environments, suggest a focus on nonlinear thought processes, mathematical reasoning skills, and creative problem solving, rather than specific content. Technology has eliminated the need for students to concentrate on the mechanics of mathematics, and attention has shifted to mastering tools. Tools as simple as spreadsheets and calculators are replacing the need for proficient computation.

GRAPHS

Graphs are a pictorial representation for one or more sets of data and how they relate visually to one another. There are many types of graphs and charts of varying complexities. For almost any set of numerical data, there is a type of graph appropriate for displaying it. IT techs use spreadsheet software to analyze, interpret, and communicate spreadsheet data through a graph. Graphing requires two different types of thinking: analytical, logical thinking for working with data and choosing the correct type of graph, and creative, holistic thinking to construct a graph that is aesthetically pleasing and accurately communicates the meaning of the data.

TYPES OF GRAPHS

1. Line Graphs

* Line graphs are used to display the comparison between two variables that are plotted on the horizontal x-axis and vertical y axis of a grid. Line graphs consist of...