Naisha Tobias

Knight
AP Statistics
2/5/17
Chapter 9 Investigative Task- Alligators

In Central Florida, where alligators and humans are practically neighbors, scientist

noticed that if the length of the alligator is collected than they could estimate the weight of the

said alligator. The scientist collect the

data to keep track of how an animal of

a certain length or weight can be

harmful to human, however they also

use the calculations to protect

endangered species and detect any

environmental changes. The data

collected is used in both the form of a scatter

plot and a residual plot graph to the left

(scatter plot) and to the right (residual plot).

From the scientist perspective the

graph may look as if it is accurate but when

analyzed one can see some many important

mistakes the graph holds. As seen the scatter plot obviously follows only a few of the rules that

are given to qualify it to be a good linear model. The scatter plot begins linear but it ends in a

noticeable curve, obstructing the straight enough rule. It has three major outliers and not to
mention its residual plot has an obvious pattern. The residual plot shown above has a deep curve

from the outliers in the data which makes the data inaccurate, for example if the outliers were to

be removed, the data would become stronger once again making the data unreliable. The data

used has to be re-expressed to make the model more linear to allow a more accurate estimate of

the alligator's weight.

The scatter plot to the left and below are the re-expressed graphs of the

original data. As demonstrated once all the data points were taken to the power of log the

model now follows every rule of a linear model. The graph is straight, has two

quantitative variables, the residual plot is acceptable, and the outliers that were once a

defining point in the data are now not. The improved residual plot, unlike the last, shows

no sign of a pattern which makes this graph more accurate. The outliers that once had a

major part in structuring the

plot, now have a more

accurate model because they

are not as far from the other

points once they were taken to

the power of log. The scientist

can now make an accurate

estimation of the weight of the

alligators.