Question

suppose the scatter plot shows the results of a survey of 46 randomly selected males ages 24 to 35. using age as the explanatory variable, choose the appropriate description for the graph. explain your reasoning.
(a) age and body temperature
(b) age and balance on student loans
(c) age and income
(d) age and height

Explanation:

The scatter plot shows age (24-36) on the vertical axis and a variable (60-80 units) on the horizontal axis. For adult males in this age range:

• Body temperature is relatively constant (~98.6°F) with little variation, so it doesn’t match the 60-80 range or high variation.
• Balance on student loans might decrease with age (as loans are repaid), but the plot has no clear downward trend.
• Income typically increases with age, but the plot shows no consistent upward trend.
• Height stabilizes in adulthood, but the plot has high variation in the horizontal variable. Wait—correction: The horizontal axis has values 60-80, which aligns with height in inches (adult males’ heights vary in this range). Age (24-36) has no correlation with height (adults stop growing), and height has high variation among adult males.

Answer:

The response variable is height because you would expect this variable and age to have no correlation and high variation for adult males.