Question

5.23 quiz: representing data: mastery test
which phrase best describes the relationship indicated by the scatter plot?
a. constant correlation
b. negative correlation
c. positive correlation
d. no correlation

Explanation:

A negative correlation means that as one variable (here \(x\)) increases, the other variable (\(y\)) decreases. In the scatter - plot, when \(x = 1,y\approx35\); when \(x = 2,y = 25\); when \(x=4,y = 20\); when \(x = 5,y\approx19\); when \(x=6,y = 15\); when \(x = 7,y\approx10\); when \(x = 8,y\approx6\). As \(x\) values increase from \(1\) to \(8\), the \(y\) values decrease from approximately \(35\) to \(6\).

A constant correlation would imply that the change in \(y\) with respect to \(x\) is at a constant rate (a straight - line relationship with a non - zero constant slope in a more data - dense plot). A positive correlation would mean that as \(x\) increases, \(y\) also increases. No correlation would mean that there is no discernible pattern between the changes in \(x\) and \(y\).

Answer:

B. negative correlation