Cooper decides to research the relationship between the length in inches
and the weight of a certain species of catfish. He measures the length and
weight of a number of specimens he catches then throws back into the
water. After plotting all his data, he draws a line of best fit. What does the
slope of the line represent?

The slope of the line in Cooper’s research represents the rate at which the weight of the catfish increases for each additional inch in length. In simpler terms, if the slope is, let’s say, 0.5, it means that for every inch longer a catfish is, the weight increases by half a pound. This valuable insight can help in understanding the growth patterns of this species.

To make the most out of the slope, it’s important to remember that correlation does not imply causation! Just because there is a relationship between length and weight does not mean one causes the other; environmental factors and genetics can also play significant roles. Be sure to consider these factors when analyzing the data for a well-rounded conclusion!