How do I do a cumulative frequency graph?

I have a large amount of data (60k lines) and want to display a cumulative
frequency of the data. Example... chart starts @ 0,0 and end at $1.00 (x) and
100% (y). It will visually show at any given x value (between 0 and 1.00) the
cumulative % of the time that value (and below) comes up. (.50 and below is
40% of the data).

I have played with histograms, but that just shows the frequency of 1 x
value. I need this to be cumulative for that x value and all values lower
than it.

Any ideas?

Ted, I think you can use the COUNTIF function: =COUNTIF(x,"<=x") where x is
the x value you want to calc the frequency of occurence.

"ted" wrote:

> I have a large amount of data (60k lines) and want to display a cumulative
> frequency of the data. Example... chart starts @ 0,0 and end at $1.00 (x) and
> 100% (y). It will visually show at any given x value (between 0 and 1.00) the
> cumulative % of the time that value (and below) comes up. (.50 and below is
> 40% of the data).
>
> I have played with histograms, but that just shows the frequency of 1 x
> value. I need this to be cumulative for that x value and all values lower
> than it.
>
> Any ideas?

Supposing the data is in column B, with a label in B1 ("Value"), sort the
data, and in column A put a label in A1 ("Rank") and starting in A2 use the
formula

=(ROW()-1)/COUNT($B:$B)

Since you can't plot more than 30K points in a chart series (and that's an
exercise in point redrawing that I wouldn't wish on anyone, except the
client who inflicted it on me), in two more columns compute a simpler data
set. In D1 type "Rank" and in D2:D101 enter =(ROW()-1)/100. In E1 type
"Value" and in E2:E101 enter this formula:

=VLOOKUP(D2,$A$2:$B$2000,2)

But enter the whole range, not just the $A$2:$B$2000 I used in my example.
Now select the data in D:E and create an XY chart.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______

"ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have a large amount of data (60k lines) and want to display a cumulative
> frequency of the data. Example... chart starts @ 0,0 and end at $1.00 (x)
> and
> 100% (y). It will visually show at any given x value (between 0 and 1.00)
> the
> cumulative % of the time that value (and below) comes up. (.50 and below
> is
> 40% of the data).
>
> I have played with histograms, but that just shows the frequency of 1 x
> value. I need this to be cumulative for that x value and all values lower
> than it.
>
> Any ideas?