Scatter Plots and Correlation

What is a scatter plot?

How is it used? What does it show?
In a scatter plot correlation is the first measures we use. What is correlation?

What types of correlation can we have. Draw examples.

List the steps you should follow when examining the correlation between two
variables in a scatter plot.

What is meant by causation or a causal relationship?

Answer the following questions:
Exercise 18A questions 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
How does correlation fit into your coursework?

Line of Best Fit and Regression

What is the line of best fit?
Define regression.
What are the two methods of determining the line of best fit?
Use the data from the opening problem on page 572 to draw a scatter plot.
Draw in your line of best fit by eye and calculate its equation (find the
y b
m , where (a,b) is the coordinates of any point
gradient and then use
xa
on the line).

Compare your results with those obtained by others in the class and the result
in the text book on page 577.
What does this say about the method of finding the line of best fit by eye?

Correlation Coefficient (r)

What is the correlation coefficient?
Between what values must a correlation coefficient lie?
How is the correlation coefficient used?
One method of determining the correlation coefficient of a set of data is to use
Pearsons Correlation Coefficient. How is it calculated? Describe in words
first, then write the formulae.
Work through examples 1 and 3 on p 579 and 580, then do the following
questions from set 18B.1 :questions 1, 2, and 3.

The Coefficient of Determination (r2)

What is the difference between correlation coefficient and coefficient of
determination?
Copy the table on page 581 showing strengths of association as a guide.
Work through the following exercise using a TI graphics calculator:

Now try doing at least 3 questions from Ex 18B.2 using a graphics calculator.
You may also use Excel to calculate r and r2 as well as create scatter plots.

This might be useful for creating charts and checking calculated values for
your coursework.