PhysicsLAB: Curve Fitting Patterns

The following are three common curve fitting patterns that are encountered with high regularity in labs and problem sets.

Hyperbolic (inverse) relations are rectified by plotting y vs 1/x.
Parabolas symmetric to the y-axis (power curve) are rectified by plotting y vs x².
Parabolas symmetric to the x-axis (root curve) are rectified by plotting y vs x.

Examine the chart provided below to see how these data patterns can be rectified to become lines. If printed, this page should be set up in landscape mode.