Exploring Scatter Plots and Line of Best Fit

What is the primary purpose of a scatterplot?

• To show the distribution of a single variable

• To represent data in a time sequence

• To display data in a hierarchical structure

• To compare two variables for a set of data

What does the 'line of best fit' represent in a scatterplot?

• The average value of the dataset

• The maximum values of the dataset

• A trend in the data points

• The minimum values of the dataset

How do you determine the starting point of the line of best fit?

• By using the first two points in the data set

• By choosing the data point with the highest value

• By calculating the midpoint of the data set

• By selecting the highest and lowest x-values

What formula is used to calculate the slope of the line?

• (x2 + x1) / (y2 + y1)

• y2 - y1 / x2 - x1

• x2 - x1 / y2 - y1

• (y2 + y1) / (x2 + x1)

What does 'y = mx + b' represent?

• The equation of the line of best fit

• The equation of a circle

• The formula for calculating the area under the curve

• The formula for calculating the volume of a sphere

Why is it important to round to the nearest hundredth when calculating the slope?

• To ensure accuracy in the equation

• Because it's easier to plot on the graph

• To simplify the calculation process

• To avoid using fractions

How do you predict future outcomes using the line of best fit?

• By extending the line beyond the plotted data points

• By calculating the average of all data points

• By using only the highest and lowest data points

• By drawing a new line that fits the future predictions

What does the y-intercept (b) indicate in the context of a scatterplot?

• The total number of data points

• The maximum value of the dataset

• The slope of the line

• The starting point of the line on the y-axis

Why is it not recommended to place a dot at the y-intercept when drawing the line of best fit?

• Because it represents an actual data point

• To make the graph look cleaner

• To avoid confusion with the plotted data points

• Because it's not part of the data set

What is the significance of using the lowest and highest x-values when calculating the line of best fit?

• To simplify the calculation process

• To ensure the line covers all data points

• To accurately represent the trend in the data

• To focus on the most important data points