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Bivariate quantitative data involves two sets of numerical values and their relationship. Visual representations, such as scatter plots, help in spotting patterns or trends within these data sets. A line of fit, often drawn on scatter plots, provides a generalized trajectory, suggesting how one set of data might predict or influence the other. For instance, in real-world applications, bivariate data can be used to compare the ages and incomes of individuals, temperatures and ice cream sales, or even the years of experience and job performance ratings. Through these methods, analysts, researchers, and students can draw meaningful conclusions from complex sets of data.
Show less Show more expand_more| Student Learning Objectives: |
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| | 9 Theory slides |
| | 7 Exercises - Grade E - A |
| | Each lesson is meant to take 1-2 classroom sessions |
The following applet shows three graphs — each with a set of points distributed on a coordinate plane.
Magdalena is fascinated by her local aquatic park and is eager to analyze how temperatures influence attendance. The following graph represents the data she collected — the average number of people that attend the park at specific temperatures.
Valuable conclusions and predictions are made about a situation based on collected data. Before such statements can be made, the data is analyzed by using tools such as graphs. A scatter plot, for example, is used to identify the correlation between a pair of data sets.
A scatter plot is a graph that shows each observation of a bivariate data set as an ordered pair in a coordinate plane. Consider the following example, where a scatter plot illustrates the results gathered at a local ice cream parlor. This study records the number of ice creams sold and the corresponding air temperature.
A correlation is a relation between two data sets. For example, consider two data sets, one consisting of temperatures and the other consisting of the number of coats sold. A decrease in the temperature may imply an increase in the number of coats sold. Based on the trend of the bivariate data, three types of correlations are possible which can be described using scatter plots.
Knowing the type of correlation helps analyze trends and make predictions based on data. Furthermore, the shape of the patterns formed by positive and negative correlations can be thought to have a positive and negative slope, respectively. The applet below shows how a data set transforms from a random pattern to a positive or a negative correlation.
The following applet shows different scatter plots. Select the type of correlation that matches the scatter plot shown.
Once the scatter plot of a data set is drawn and the type of correlation is identified, predictions can be made about the trend of the data by using lines of fit.
When data sets have a positive or negative correlation, the trend of the data can be modeled using a line of fit, also called a trend line. This line is drawn on a scatter plot near most of the data points, which appear evenly distributed above and below the line.
The scatter plot above shows the mean weights of kittens from the same litter in relation to their age. In this case, a line of fit could be drawn quite seamlessly. When drawing a line of fit, the following characteristics should be considered.
At an aquatic park, a student-volunteer named Tadeo noticed a dedicated person who swims long distances in the lazy lagoon every Saturday morning.
Tadeo is amazed and wants to analyze how many calories the swimmer burns compared to the distance swam. He observes and records the swimmer diligently.
| Distance (km) | Calories Burned |
|---|---|
| 16 | 980 |
| 15 | 880 |
| 14 | 860 |
| 13 | 740 |
| 12 | 720 |
| 11 | 680 |
| 10 | 595 |
| 9 | 560 |
| 8 | 490 |
| 7 | 400 |
| 6 | 380 |
Make a scatter plot of the data.
What type of correlation does the data have? Justify the answer.
Draw a line of fit for the scatter plot.
Find an equation for the line of fit.
Example Answer:
Positive, see solution.
Example Answer:
Example Equation: y=50x+110
To draw the scatter plot, let x be the distance in kilometers and y the calories burned. With this in mind, the information from the table can be shown on a scatter plot.
From the scatter plot previously drawn, it can be seen that as the distance increases, the number of calories burned also increases. Therefore, the bivariate data has a positive correlation.
Since the data has a positive correlation, it can be modeled with a line of fit. The line of fit is not unique. However, ideally, the number of points below and above the line is expected to be similar.
Because the equation of a line can be found using any two points on the line, two points whose coordinates can be easily identified will be marked on the graph of the line of fit.
For this case, the points ( 4, 310) and ( 16, 910) will be used. Substituting these points into the Slope Formula will give the slope of the line. Note that the points on the line do not necessarily match the data on the data set.
Now that the slope is known, the equation in point-slope form of a line can be used to find a partial equation of the line of fit. y-y_1&=m(x-x_1) &⇓ y-y_1&= 50(x-x_1) To complete the equation, any of the two points can be substituted above. For simplicity, ( 4, 310) will be used.
Zosia and Vincenzo are poster designers at the aquatic park. Right now, they are promoting a 3D movie about the life of dolphins called Above and Below the Line.
They recorded the number of tickets sold each week with the purpose of using the data to determine whether they should continue to advertise the movie on a billboard. The scatter plot shows the collected data.
Draw a line of fit for the scatter plot.
Find an equation for the line of fit in slope-intercept form.
If the expected number of tickets sold on week 12 is more than 150 000, Vincenzo and Zosia will keep the movie for at least two more weeks on the billboard. Use the line of fit to predict if the movie stays on the billboard.
Example Line:
Example Equation: y=-25x+525
Example Answer: Because the expected number of tickets sold on week 12 is about 237 000, they may decide to keep the movie.
What type of correlation does the scatter plot have?
Use two points on the line of fit to find the slope and the y-intercept of the line.
Evaluate the equation found in Part B for x=12.
The scatter plot shows that the number of tickets sold decreases as time passes. Therefore, the data has a negative correlation and can be modeled by a line of fit. Recall that the line of fit is close to most of the data points, while the points are ideally half above and half below the line of fit.
The equation of a line in slope-intercept form has the following form.
y=mx+b In this equation, m is the slope and b the y-intercept of the line. The slope of the line of fit can be found by using the Slope Formula. m=y_2-y_1/x_2-x_1 The points ( 1, 500) and ( 7, 350) are on the line of fit. This means that they can be substituted in the above formula.
Substitute ( 1,500) & ( 7,350)
Subtract terms
Put minus sign in front of fraction
Calculate quotient
The slope m= -25 can be substituted to obtain a partial equation of the line of fit. y=mx+b substitute y= -25x+b Now, the y-intercept can be found by substituting any of the points into the partial equation. In this case, ( 1, 500) will be used.
x= 1, y= 500
Identity Property of Multiplication
LHS+25=RHS+25
Rearrange equation
Finally, the equation of the line of fit can be completed by substituting 525 for b. y=-25x+b substitute y=-25x+ 525
The line of fit describes the trend of the data. This means that it can be used to predict how many tickets would be sold on the 12^\text{th} week. Therefore, by evaluating the equation of the line of fit for x=12, the expected number of tickets sold can be found.
In week 12 the expected number of tickets sold is 237 000, which is greater than the minimum required by Vincenzo and Zosia. Therefore, they may decide to keep the movie on the billboard for at least two more weeks.
In this lesson, it was taught how to analyze bivariate data using scatter plots and lines of fit. These mathematical concepts can now be used to solve the Challenge. It is now recognizable that Magdalena created a scatter plot to show the aquatic park visitors in relation to the temperatures.
Help Magdalena predict if more than 10 000 people are expected to attend the park next week, given that the temperature will be around 110^(∘)F. Justify the prediction.
By finding the equation of the line of fit, it can be predicted how many people would attend the park if the temperature is about 110^(∘)F. To do so, the equation in slope-intercept form of a line can be used. y=mx+b In this equation, m is the slope and b the y-intercept of the line. The slope can be calculated by using the Slope Formula. m = y_2-y_1/x_2-x_1 Because the points ( 70, 7000) and ( 80, 8000) are on the line of fit, they will be used to find the slope.
Now, the slope m= 100 can be substituted to obtain a partial equation of the line of fit. y=mx+b substitute y= 100x+b By substituting one of the points on the line of fit, the y-intercept can be found. In this case, ( 70, 7000) will be used.
Therefore, the y-intercept b is 0. With this information, the equation of the line of fit can be written. y=100x+b substitute y&=100x+ 0 y&=100x Finally, using this equation, the number of people that would attend the park if the temperature is about 110^(∘)F can be predicted. To do so, the equation needs to be evaluated for x=110.
It is expected that more than 10 000 people will attend the park next week. What a brilliant way to make a prediction. Magdalena has really helped the aquatic park prepare for the influx of visitors surely to come.
Since parallel lines have the same slope, we will begin by determining the slope of the given line. To do so, let's rewrite the given equation in slope-intercept form.
This equation has a slope of 43. Since the line of fit shares this slope, we can use it jointly with the given point ( 9, 22) to determine the equation in point-slope form for the line of fit. y- y_1&= m(x- x_1) &⇓ y- 22&= 4/3(x- 9)
To determine how much money Vincenzo is expected to have after 12 months, we need to evaluate the previous equation when x= 12 and solve it for y. Let's do it!
Therefore, we can predict that Vincenzo will have about $26 in his savings account after 12 months.