A set of experimental points has been plotted on graph paper. What should be drawn through them?

1. Every measurement carries a small error, so no real data set sits perfectly on one line. 2. Joining the dots would build those errors into the graph and hide the real trend. 3. A best fit line is drawn so that the points are spread fairly evenly on either side of it. 4. That line can then be used to read off further values more accurately than any single point allows. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 1: Skills for science_