Task: Scatterplots, Correlation, Best Fit

Front

What is a scatterplot?

Back

A scatterplot is a graph that displays values for typically two variables for a set of data. Each point represents an observation in the dataset.

Front

What does a positive correlation indicate in a scatterplot?

Back

A positive correlation indicates that as one variable increases, the other variable also tends to increase.

Front

What does a negative correlation indicate in a scatterplot?

Back

A negative correlation indicates that as one variable increases, the other variable tends to decrease.

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 scatterplot, showing the general direction of the data points.

Front

How do you determine the slope of a line of best fit?

Back

The slope of a line of best fit is determined by the change in the y-values divided by the change in the x-values between two points on the line.

Front

What is the purpose of using a line of best fit?

Back

The purpose of using a line of best fit is to make predictions about one variable based on the value of another variable.

Front

What does it mean if there is no correlation in a scatterplot?

Back

No correlation means that there is no apparent relationship between the two variables; changes in one variable do not predict changes in the other.

Front

What is an example of a positive correlation?

Back

An example of a positive correlation is the relationship between the number of hours studied and test scores; generally, more study time leads to higher scores.

Front

What is an example of a negative correlation?

Back

An example of a negative correlation is the relationship between the amount of gas in a car and the distance it can travel; as gas decreases, the distance it can travel also decreases.

Front

What is the significance of outliers in a scatterplot?

Back

Outliers are data points that differ significantly from other observations. They can affect the slope and position of the line of best fit.