SAT Math: Interpreting Scatterplots and Correlation
30+ practice questions in Praczo
The concept, explained
- 1
Positive correlation: as x increases, y tends to increase. Negative correlation: as x increases, y tends to decrease. No correlation: no clear pattern.
- 2
Strength of correlation: points clustered tightly around the line = strong; widely scattered = weak.
- 3
Correlation does not imply causation. A strong correlation between two variables does not mean one causes the other.
- 4
The line of best fit (regression line) models the trend and allows predictions.
- 5
Outliers are points that fall far from the general trend. They can significantly affect the line of best fit and correlation strength.
- ✗ Saying the data "shows" that X causes Y — correlation only shows association.
- ✗ Confusing the direction of correlation (positive vs. negative) by focusing on individual points rather than the general trend.
SAT-style practice
A scatterplot shows a strong negative correlation between hours of screen time per day and hours of sleep per night. Which conclusion is best supported?
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