X against Y or Y against X?

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  1. ruthie's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: oxfordshire
    X against Y or Y against X?
    when plotting a graph of voltage against current with current along the X axis and Voltage on the Y which way round do you phrase it; - voltage against current or current against voltage, i know it matters just cant remeber which way it is supposed to go?
  2. LS.'s Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Location: UK
    Current goes on the X axis (horizontal)

    Voltage goes on the Y axis (vertical)

    as: gradient of graph = voltage/current = resistance

  3. elpaw's Avatar
    • TSR Legend
    • Location: London/Oxford
    do you mean what's the terminology? it's always Y against X, because Y is the dependent variable.
  4. ruthie's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: oxfordshire
    i know that Y is vertical and is voltage as i know current is X and horizontal i meant how is it phrased, as in do i write i will plot the graph of :
    a) voltage against current (thus y against x)
    or
    b) current against voltage (thus x against y)
    im varying the current hence its on the y axis i just cant remember how to put it in words it is supposed to go in a specific order determined by which is on each axis.
  5. Nylex's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Location: Coventry/London, UK
    • Posts: 6,222
    (Original post by ruthie)
    i know that Y is vertical and is voltage as i know current is X and horizontal i meant how is it phrased, as in do i write i will plot the graph of :
    a) voltage against current (thus y against x)
    or
    b) current against voltage (thus x against y)
    im varying the current hence its on the y axis i just cant remember how to put it in words it is supposed to go in a specific order determined by which is on each axis.
    You've contradicted yourself, cos first you said you were plotting the voltage on the y-axis, then you said you're plotting current on the y-axis. Whichever it is, it's y against x, as elpaw said.
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