Linear Relationships: What a Point in a Scatter Plot Means...

What a Point in a Scatter Plot

Means

Linear Relationships

Let’s investigate
points in scatter
plots!

Engagement

A giant panda lives in a zoo. What does the point on
the graph tell you about the panda?

“Giant Panda 2” by Sheila Lau via
Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

Open Ended

What does the point on the graph tell you about the panda?

Today’s Goal

❏ I can describe the

meaning of a point in a
scatter plot in context.

Exploration:
Weight and Fuel Efficiency

fuel efficiency

Fuel efficiency is a measure of
the average distance a car will
travel using a certain amount
of gas.

Commonly this is measured in
miles per gallon (mpg).

A car that has a fuel efficiency
of 25 mpg should be able to
drive approximately 25 miles
while using a gallon of gas.

fuel efficiency

Many factors can influence
fuel efficiency, including the
way an engine is engineered,
driving conditions, and what
accessories are being used.

What would a scatter plot including
these 2 variables look like?

The table shows the weight and fuel efficiency of 18 different cars.

1.

Which point in the scatter plot represents Car Lʼs
measurements? Drag the circle around the correct point.

2.

What is the fuel efficiency of the car with the greatest weight?

3.

What is the weight of the car with the greatest fuel efficiency?

4.

Car S weighs 1,912 kilograms and gets 16 miles per gallon. On
the scatter plot, plot a point that represents Car Sʼs
measurements.

The data points in the table are shown in this scatter plot.Please begin working!

1.

Cars N and O, shown in the scatter plot, are made by the
same company. Compare their weights and fuel
efficiencies. Does anything surprise you about these
cars?

2.

A different company makes Cars F and G. Compare their
weights and fuel efficiencies. Does anything surprise you
about these cars?

Let’s Discuss!

How did you find the
automobile with the
greatest weight?

How did you find the
automobile with the
greatest fuel
efficiency?

The data in this table is from automobiles that run on
gasoline. Where do you think a hybrid car would appear?

Did the scatter plot match your prediction?

Elaboration:Coat Sales

A clothing store keep track of
the average monthly
temperature in degrees Celsius
and coat sales in dollars.

Predict what a scatter plot might
look like when the temperature
is along the x-axis and the sales
of coats at a store is along the
y-axis.