Setting x and y Scales

This lesson is called Setting x and y Scales, part of the Fundamentals of R course. This lesson is called Setting x and y Scales, part of the Fundamentals of R course.

Transcript

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# Load Packages -----------------------------------------------------------

library(tidyverse)

# Import Data -------------------------------------------------------------

penguins <- read_csv("penguins.csv")
			
penguin_bill_length_by_island <-
	penguins |>
	drop_na(bill_length_mm) |>
	group_by(island) |>
	summarize(mean_bill_length = mean(bill_length_mm))
			
# Setting x and y Scales --------------------------------------------------

# Adjusting our x and y axes is similar. 
# Remember that the x and y axes are considered an aesthetic properties 
# in the same way color and fill are.

# We adjust our x and y axes using the scale_ set of functions. 
# The exact function you use depends on your data. 
# For example, you would use scale_y_continuous() 
# if you have continuous data on the y axis.

# The limits argument sets the minimum and maximum values that display.

ggplot(data = penguin_bill_length_by_island,
       mapping = aes(x = island,
                     y = mean_bill_length,
                     fill = island)) +
  geom_col() +
  scale_y_continuous(limits = c(0, 50))

# The breaks argument determines which axis labels show up.

ggplot(data = penguin_bill_length_by_island,
       mapping = aes(x = island,
                     y = mean_bill_length,
                     fill = island)) +
  geom_col() +
  scale_y_continuous(limits = c(0, 50),
                     breaks = c(0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50))

# If we want to change the x axis labels, we'd need to use 
# the labels argument in scale_x_discrete() because that data is categorical. 

ggplot(data = penguin_bill_length_by_island,
       mapping = aes(x = island,
                     y = mean_bill_length,
                     fill = island)) +
  geom_col() +
  scale_y_continuous(limits = c(0, 50),
                     breaks = c(0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50)) +
  scale_x_discrete(labels = c("Biscoe Island", 
                              "Dream Island",
                              "Torgersen Island"))

Your Turn

# Load Packages -----------------------------------------------------------

library(tidyverse)

# Import Data -------------------------------------------------------------

penguins <- read_csv("penguins.csv")

# Setting x and y Scales --------------------------------------------------

# Copy the code for the last bar chart you made
# Update it so that the y axis goes from 0 to 200

# YOUR CODE HERE

# Copy the code you just wrote
# Update it so that it has breaks on the y axis at 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160

# YOUR CODE HERE

Have any questions? Put them below and we will help you out!

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Maria Montenegro • April 8, 2024

Hello! What does the c mean in the functions? example: limits= c(0,50). Wondering if it stands for something specific that can help me remember why it goes there, it doesn't seem intuitive to me.

I am also wondering if there is a way to edit breaks that is more efficient than entering the values one by one. Is there a way to specify what in excel is called the axis' units?

David Keyes Founder • April 8, 2024

The c() function combines multiple values. I think of it as "combine" in my head (though I'm not sure that's what its developers would actually call it). In this case, it means combine 0 and 50 so that 0 is the low value and 50 is the high value. Does that help?