X-axis in Matplotlib

I've written a simple program in Python using Matplotlib to draw lines in a coordinate system. I want X-Axis description to be "2006, 2007, 2008" but instead is shows as "0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.0 +2.006e3"

code is here:

import matplotlib.pyplot

import numpy as np

fig = matplotlib.pyplot.figure()

a=[2006,2007,2008]

b=[-1,3,5]

matplotlib.pyplot.plot(a, b, 'go-', label='line 1', linewidth=2)

matplotlib.pyplot.axis([2开发者_运维技巧006, 2008, -1, 5])

matplotlib.pyplot.show()

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Instead of

plt.axis([2006, 2008, -1, 5])

use plt.xticks:

plt.xticks(a, map(str,a))

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PS: Its convenient to import matplotlib.pyplot with

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

as this cuts down on the typing.