MacOS – How to make a scatter plot using Apple Numbers

macosnumbers

I'm trying to make a scatter plot in Numbers but can't get it to work. If I select column A & B and have it make a scatter plot it uses column A for both axes. If I click on the plot and go to Series, it shows the values used for x and y, See the image below.

enter image description here

The above image is what I get when I select columns A and B to try and plot. If I go into that setting box and manually change the y-axis to column B it changes it back to A when I click plot. I tried this several times changing either the x-axis or the y-axis and the same thing happens. It keeps plotting the same values for both x and y.

I can't use a line plot because a line plot assumes the points on the x-axis are evenly spaced and distorts your plot.

An example of the numbers I am trying to plot is given below.

X-values 1,2,5,7,8,9

Y-values 43,56,103,156,215,300

I just want a simple x,y plot… Can anyone do this in numbers?

I've looked at previous questions but none of those answers help me.

tia

Best Answer

Yes, it is possible to create a scatter chart in Numbers as you described.

However, sometimes creating a chart in Numbers turns out to be cumbersome for some reason in my experience as well, but, in this case, I could not replicate the problem you are describing. So I am unable to tell you what possibly the problem is in your case.

In addition, I tried a few slightly different procedures, including the one described in this Apple support page, to create a scatter chart using the numbers you have given as an example and all turned out to be successful. I am attaching below the outcome of one of these trials.

enter image description here