When considering the properties of a line of best fit for any scatter plot, the following statements should be true:
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The line must represent the general relationship between the two variables. (True)
The line of best fit should capture the overall trend of the data points, whether it's a positive, negative, or no correlation. -
The line of best fit can, sometimes, be used as a prediction tool; showing a trend in the data. (True)
A line of best fit can be used to make predictions about one variable based on another, utilizing the established trend.
The other statements are not necessarily true:
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The line of best fit MUST cross through at least 2 points in the scatter plot. (False)
The line of best fit does not have to pass through any points. It's a summary statistic and is ideally located to minimize the distance to all points. -
The line of best fit SHOULD be an exact representation of the data points. (False)
The line does not need to match every point exactly but should reflect the overall trend of the data. -
The line of best fit must have an equal number of points above and below the line. (False)
The line of best fit does not have to divide the points equally; it is based on minimizing the squared distances from the points to the line, which doesn't guarantee equal numbers above and below.
In summary, the correct responses are the third and fifth statements.
1 answer