Calculating Line of Best Fit

Front

What is the line of best fit?

Back

The line of best fit is a straight line that best represents the data on a scatter plot. It shows the trend of the data points and can be used to make predictions.

Front

How do you calculate the slope of a line?

Back

The slope (m) of a line is calculated using the formula m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1), where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are two points on the line.

Front

What does a positive slope indicate?

Back

A positive slope indicates that as the x-value increases, the y-value also increases, showing a direct relationship between the two variables.

Front

What does a negative slope indicate?

Back

A negative slope indicates that as the x-value increases, the y-value decreases, showing an inverse relationship between the two variables.

Front

What is the y-intercept of a line?

Back

The y-intercept is the point where the line crosses the y-axis, represented as (0, b) in the equation y = mx + b.

Front

What is the equation of a line in slope-intercept form?

Back

The equation of a line in slope-intercept form is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

Front

How can you determine the line of best fit using a graph?

Back

To determine the line of best fit, plot the data points on a graph and draw a straight line that best represents the trend of the points.

Front

What is the purpose of the line of best fit?

Back

The purpose of the line of best fit is to summarize the relationship between two variables and to make predictions based on that relationship.

Front

What is the least squares method?

Back

The least squares method is a statistical technique used to find the line of best fit by minimizing the sum of the squares of the vertical distances of the points from the line.

Front

What does it mean if the line of best fit has a slope of zero?

Back

If the line of best fit has a slope of zero, it indicates that there is no relationship between the variables; the y-value remains constant regardless of the x-value.