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I have two sets of x,y coordinates, and want to plot them both on the same graph. With one set,

List1 $= \{ \{ x_1, y_1 \}, \{ x_2, y_2 \},\{ x_3, y_3 \}, \cdots \}$

I can use ListLinePlot[List1].

But with a second list,

List2 $= \{ \{ u_1, v_1 \}, \{ u_2, v_2 \},\{ u_3, v_3 \}, \cdots \}$

I assumed I'd be able to use something like ListLinePlot[List1,List2], but this seems reserved for when the lists have only one of the coordinates: $\{ x_1, x_2, x_3, \cdots\}$.

The data in List1 has to be connected via a line, as does the data in List2, but they mustn't be joined together (i.e. I can't amalgamate them into one list). Anyone know how I can plot both sets on the same graph?

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    $\begingroup$ The answer is the third syntax form on the ListLinePlot doc page. If you have questions in the future, could you please check the reference pages first? $\endgroup$
    – Sjoerd C. de Vries
    Mar 12 '12 at 0:24
  • $\begingroup$ @SjoerdC.deVries I did! I made the mistake of thinking the curly brackets outside each list $\{ \{ x_1, y_1 \}, \cdots \}$ were the same curly brackets as in the 3rd form of ListLinePlot in the documentation, so I was short of the outside set of brackets. $\endgroup$
    – Calvin
    Mar 12 '12 at 22:30
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah, that is quite understandable. The docs have the habit of summarizing earlier syntax constructions that are being reused in forms later on into a single word (not formally defined). So, {{x1,y1},⋯} becomes list1. It happens all the time and it takes some getting used to it. Apologies if I sounded rude. $\endgroup$
    – Sjoerd C. de Vries
    Mar 12 '12 at 22:36
  • $\begingroup$ @SjoerdC.deVries No worries, thank for your comment. Hopefully I'll get used to it soon :o) $\endgroup$
    – Calvin
    Mar 14 '12 at 22:04
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Instead of ListLinePlot[ list1, list2 ] use ListLinePlot[ {list1, list2} ].

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  • $\begingroup$ Awesome - thanks. Seems so obvious now! $\endgroup$
    – Calvin
    Mar 11 '12 at 2:52
  • $\begingroup$ @Calvin To the best of my knowledge, every plotting function operates that way. So, if you need to plot multiple things on a single plot, just wrap them in a list. $\endgroup$
    – rcollyer
    Mar 11 '12 at 2:55
  • $\begingroup$ One exception is the PairedXXXX set of functions. Although in that case it perhaps depends on your interpretation of "single plot". $\endgroup$
    – Brett Champion
    Mar 11 '12 at 2:57
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Or

p1=ListLinePlot[list1, PlotStyle -> {DotDashed, Thick}, PlotLegends -> {"list1"}];
p2=ListLinePlot[list2, PlotStyle -> {Dashed, Black}, PlotLegends -> {"list2"}];
Show[p1,p2]
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