What's This Graph Called (Not Really an Excel Question)

[rjbinney]

So most charts plot a positive X and positive Y and look kinda like this:

Others have negatives - so the zero point is in the center, where the X and Y axes intersect:

Do these two different graphs have different names? Like, if I said I wanted a "transgential interspecular graph", a mathematician would know I want that second kind, where the axes intersect?

(I know the data dictates the shape of the graph, but I want to know if they have names anyway).

 

[thisoldman]

The names are all interchangeable: scatter plot, scatterplot, xy chart, Cartesian coordinate plot, Cartesian coordinate diagram. A few people might recognize "a graph on a coordinate plane".

I think in usage, if you say "scatterplot", most people will envision a graph with x greater than zero and y greater than zero—your first illustration. If you say "Cartesian coordinate plot" or "coordinate plane", and your audience recognizes the terms, the mental image will more likely to be your second illustration. For me, if you say "xy plot", I'm likely to imagine the second illustration.

 

[rjbinney]

Cool. Thanks. I was thinking if I said "x-y function chart" that would conjure it, but you're right "plot" is probably better.

Cartesian. Good word.