Over the past several years, it has become clear that not many students
know how to label and use semi-log graph paper. There is no real trick
to it. The only thing that you need remember is that the log axis runs
in exponential cycles. Each cycle runs linearly in 10's but the increase
from one cycle to another is an increase by a factor of 10. So within a
cycle you would have a series of: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100
(this could also be 1-10, or 0.1-1, etc.). The next cycle actually begins
with 100 and progresses as 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000.
The cycle after that would be 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000,
8000, 9000, 10000. Below is a picture of semi-log graph paper with 6 cycles
on the x-axis.
The next sheet of paper was an attempt to show you how the progressions worked. Unfortunately, I could not physically fit all of the numbers on the graph. So I have provided some of the numbers. Try to fill in the rest of numbers by continuing what I have started.
An alternative to using semi-log graph paper is to use linear paper. Instead of plotting your linear data vs. the exponential data you would acutally take the log of the exponential data then plot it.
Let us know if you have any questions