Problem with Line Chart Merging

[Beth]

Hi,

I'm new at this excel stuff, so please be patient.

I am trying to create a bell curve, using the z score as
the x axis. The problem I need to solve is this:

P(0 <= z <= 1.62), assuming a normal distribution and z
can be any value within that distribution. Shade the area
between 0 and 1.62.

I got the bell curve created, that part was easy. What I
am not understanding is how do I overlay the slice that I
need to shade. I tried using trend data, that didn't work.
And I tried adding another data series, but I am not
understanding how that works. Whenever I attempt to add
another series, the original bell curve gets skewed. I'm
about ready to say heck withit and just bring it into a
paint program and do it that way.

If any of you could 'walk me' through the process, I would
deeply aprreciate it.

//beth

[Andy Brown]

beth,
I've no idea what you're on about, but since you've had no response - have
you tried a different chart type, eg: area? Click on the chart then select
Type from the Chart menu?

HTH,
Andy

[Jon Peltier]

Hi Beth -

I've done this two different ways in the past. One way uses Area charts,
which is a line chart with the area below the line filled in with a color or
pattern. You can make a combination Area/Line chart, where the line chart
shows the individual points, and the other fills in the region you select.
The problem is getting a vertical line at the sides of the shaded region.
(Without inserting extra points, playing games to trick Excel into treating
the category axis like a time axis so it plots one point directly above
another, and basically standing on my head).

The other way uses a combination column chart/line chart, where I have sliced
the X axis into narrow little pieces, and each bar is very narrow, and the
line chart traces the upper edge and the points as above (like integral
calculus examples). The drawback here is that you have to add a new series
with lots of values, and you have to make the bars very narrow if you want
the top to be smooth.

You can experiment with this kind of approach. If you get stuck or want more
details, let me know.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Excel MVP
http://www.geocities.com/jonpeltier/Excel/index.html
_______

In article <123501c1d1fa$a1c9ca30$3aef2ecf@TKMSFTNGXA09>, Beth said...

[Beth]

Thank you both! The area chart did the trick, I now have
the graphs exactly the way I needed them.

//beth

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