Question
If a scatter plot shows points that are closely clustered together, what can you infer about the correlation between the variables?
Ask by Barnett Ramos. in South Africa
Jan 24,2025
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Answer
If a scatter plot shows points closely clustered together, it means there is a strong correlation between the variables.
Solution
If a scatter plot shows points that are closely clustered together, you can infer that there is a strong correlation between the variables. The closer the points are to forming a straight line (either upward or downward), the stronger the correlation.
- If the points cluster in a way that suggests a positive slope (moving from the lower left to the upper right), it indicates a strong positive correlation, meaning that as one variable increases, the other variable tends to increase as well.
- Conversely, if the points cluster in a way that suggests a negative slope (moving from the upper left to the lower right), it indicates a strong negative correlation, meaning that as one variable increases, the other variable tends to decrease.
In summary, closely clustered points in a scatter plot suggest a strong correlation, whether positive or negative, between the two variables being analyzed.
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Simplify this solution Bonus Knowledge
If a scatter plot shows points that are tightly clustered together, it suggests a strong correlation between the two variables. This means that as one variable increases or decreases, the other variable tends to do the same in a predictable manner. If the points trend upwards, it's a positive correlation, while a downward trend indicates a negative correlation. However, be on the lookout for common pitfalls! Just because the points are clustered doesn't mean causation exists. Correlation does not imply that one variable causes changes in the other; there might be an unseen variable influencing both. Always dig deeper for the story behind the data!
