Lesson 5Describing Trends in Scatter Plots
Learning Goal
Let’s look for associations between variables.
Learning Targets
I can draw a line to fit data in a scatter plot.
I can say whether data in a scatter plot has a positive or negative association (or neither).
Lesson Terms
- negative association
- outlier
- positive association
Warm Up: Which One Doesn’t Belong: Scatter Plots
Problem 1
Which one doesn’t belong?
Activity 1: Fitting Lines
Problem 1
Experiment with finding lines to fit the data. Drag the points to move the line. You can close the expressions list by clicking on the double arrow.
Here is a scatter plot. Experiment with different lines to fit the data. Pick the line that you think best fits the data. Compare it with a partner’s.
Here is a different scatter plot. Experiment with drawing lines to fit the data. Pick the line that you think best fits the data. Compare it with a partner’s.
In your own words, describe what makes a line fit a data set well.
Print Version
Your teacher will give you a piece of pasta and a straightedge.
Here are two copies of the same scatter plot. Experiment with drawing lines to fit the data. Pick the line that you think best fits the data. Compare it with a partner’s.
Here are two copies of another scatter plot. Experiment with drawing lines to fit the data. Pick the line that you think best fits the data. Compare it with a partner’s.
In your own words, describe what makes a line fit a data set well.
Activity 2: Good Fit Bad Fit
The scatter plots both show the year and price for the same 17 used cars. However, each scatter plot shows a different model for the relationship between year and price.
Problem 1
Look at Diagram A.
For how many cars does the model in Diagram A make a good prediction of its price?
For how many cars does the model underestimate the price?
For how many cars does it overestimate the price?
Problem 2
Look at Diagram B.
For how many cars does the model in Diagram B make a good prediction of its price?
For how many cars does the model underestimate the price?
For how many cars does it overestimate the price?
Problem 3
For how many cars does the prediction made by the model in Diagram A differ by more than $3,000? What about the model in Diagram B?
Problem 4
Which model does a better job of predicting the price of a used car from its year?
Activity 3: Practice Fitting Lines
Problem 1
Is this line a good fit for the data? Explain your reasoning.
Problem 2
Draw a line that fits the data better.
Problem 3
Is this line a good fit for the data? Explain your reasoning.
Problem 4
Draw a line that fits the data better.
Are you ready for more?
Problem 1
These scatter plots were created by multiplying the
For each scatter plot, draw a line that fits the data.
Explain why some were easier to do than others.
Lesson Summary
When a linear function fits data well, we say there is a linear association between the variables. For example, the relationship between height and weight for 25 dogs with the linear function whose graph is shown in the scatter plot.
Because the model fits the data well and because the slope of the line is positive, we say that there is a positive association between dog height and dog weight.
What do you think the association between the weight of a car and its fuel efficiency is?
Because the slope of a line that fits the data well is negative, we say that there is a negative association between the fuel efficiency and weight of a car.