Question

part a
leisure activities the table shows the average number of minutes a person reads per weekday and the average number of minutes a person watches
television per weekday.

age 15 25 35 45 55 65
minutes reading 7 9 12 17 30 50
minutes
watching
television 117 115 113 127 155 236

a. graph the ordered pairs as a scatter plot (minutes reading, minutes watching television) on a separate sheet of paper.
b. determine whether there is a correlation between the variables in the data. explain.
the scatter plot shows select choice correlation because as the number of minutes reading increases, the number of minutes watching television
select choice
part b
c. if there is a correlation, does this mean that a change in time spent reading causes a change in time spent watching television? select the correct reasoning.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the data trend

We observe the values of minutes reading and minutes watching television. As minutes reading (\(7,9,12,17,30,50\)) increases, minutes watching television (\(117,115,113,127,155,236\)) also shows an increasing trend overall.

Step2: Determine the type of correlation

Since both variables (minutes reading and minutes watching television) move in the same direction (increase), there is a positive correlation.

Step3: Analyze causation

Correlation does not imply causation. Just because two variables are correlated (move in a related way), it does not mean that one variable causes the other. There could be other factors (e.g., age - as age increases, both reading and TV - watching time might change due to lifestyle changes related to age, not directly because of each other) that influence both variables.

Answer:

b. The scatter plot shows a positive correlation because as the number of minutes reading increases, the number of minutes watching television increases.
c. No. Correlation does not imply causation. There could be other underlying factors (such as age - related lifestyle changes) that affect both reading and television - watching time, not a direct cause - and - effect relationship between reading time and television - watching time.