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Problems with X axis in a bell curve

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  1. #1
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    Problems with X axis in a bell curve

    I'm working with Excel 2010. I've managed to create a chart showing bell curves for sample data and random data based on the sample mean and standard deviation. My problem is with the x axis, as it is showing the numbers 1-8 ( the bin levels of +- 3 standard deviations) not the bin values themselves. If I select the data within the chart menu it shows the bin values for the x axis but they don't appear, I get the numbers mentioned above and the edit button for the x axis won't activate. Any assistance would be appreciated, especially as this is my first tentative post.

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    Re: Problems with X axis in a bell curve

    Chart type? line or scatter?
    What type of data is the X data? text values ("1-2" or actual numbers 1.456)?
    Quote Originally Posted by shg
    Mathematics is the native language of the natural world. Just trying to become literate.

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    Re: Problems with X axis in a bell curve

    I've used the scatter plot connected with smooth lines and the curves have plotted o.k. The data is a list of weights in number format. I've just re-formatted the columns to make sure they are in number format. The bin results in the histogram show the + or - 3 standard deviations except for the +3 level which displays as more. Could this be the problem as it will introduce text into a numerical array?

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    Re: Problems with X axis in a bell curve

    Could this be the problem as it will introduce text into a numerical array?
    Yes, this seems possible. Does this cell contain the text "more"? Does your "x values" range for you chart include this text value? If so, then that single text value could cause Excel to use count numbers rather than the actual values for x values in the chart.

    What happens if you delete this text string, or replace it with a number?

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    Re: Problems with X axis in a bell curve

    Just tried it and that is the problem. It's strange that it doesn't apply the same rule or format to the -3 s.dev.. level in the bin. It must be something in the histogram formulation that this is produced. But I do now have a comparative chart based on S.dev. values and not the frequency numbers. Many thanks. Now onto understanding the relationship of levels of skew and kurtosis. I understand what they are but not sure about whether the levels are significant or not. Another thread perhaps. Thanks again as it allows me to understand and present the data in a much better fashion.

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