Correlations: Describing Scatter Plots and Lines of Best Fit

Positive, Negative or no Correlation?

/ A scatter plot shows a ______correlation when the pattern rises up to the right.
This means that the two quantities increase together.
/ A scatter plot shows a ______correlation when the pattern falls down to the right.
This means that as one quantity increases the other decreases.
/ A scatter plot shows ______correlation when no pattern appears.
Hint:
If the points are roughly enclosed by a circle, then there is no correlation.

Strong or Weak?

Hint:
To visualize this, enclose the plotted points in an oval.
If the oval is thin, then the correlation is strong.
If the oval is fat, then the correlation is weak.

·  If the points nearly form a line, then the correlation is ______.

·  If the points are dispersed more widely, but still form a rough line, then the correlation is ______.

Practice

Write two or three key words to describe each relation: strong or weak, positive or negative, linear or non-linear correlation. In the event that there is no correlation, simply state so.

a. / b. / c.
d. / e. / f.

Line of Best Fit

To be able to make predictions, we need to model the data with a line or a curve of best fit.

Guide for drawing a line of best fit:

1. The line must follow the ______.

2. The line should ______through as many points as possible.

3. There should be ______of points above and below the line.

4. The line should pass through points all along the line, not just at the ends.

Interpolate

When you interpolate, you are making a prediction ______the data.

Hint:
You are interpolating when the value you are finding is somewhere between the first point and the last point.

Extrapolate

When you extrapolate, you are making a prediction ______the data. It often requires you to ______the line.

Independent Practice:

A. A basketball team recorded the number of points each player scored vs. the number of shots they took.

Shots / 25 / 32 / 24 / 15 / 34 / 67 / 19 / 10 / 30 / 50
Points / 40 / 54 / 36 / 24 / 60 / 108 / 34 / 20 / 45 / 85

a)  Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. Explain.

b)  Draw a scatter plot by hand on graph paper and find the line of best fit.

c)  Describe the correlation and the relationship between the variables.

d)  If a person shot 40 times, how many points would they receive? Is this interpolating or extrapolating?

e)  If a person got 90 points, how many shots did they take? Is this interpolating or extrapolating?

f)  If a person shot 80 times, how many points would they receive? Is this interpolating or extrapolating?