Question

Baruti, a ranger in Kruger National Park in South Africa, collected data about the elephant population in the park. She compared the foot lengths of the elephants and their shoulder height (both in centimeters) and created the following scatterplot and regression line.
The fitted line has a slope of
\[5.89\].
What is the best interpretation of this slope?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) On average, each
\[1\] centimeter increase in foot length was associated with a
\[5.89\] centimeter increase in shoulder height.
A
On average, each
\[1\] centimeter increase in foot length was associated with a
\[5.89\] centimeter increase in shoulder height.
(Choice B) On average, each
\[1\] centimeter increase in shoulder height was associated with a
\[5.89\] centimeter increase in foot length.
B
On average, each
\[1\] centimeter increase in shoulder height was associated with a
\[5.89\] centimeter increase in foot length.
(Choice C) We would predict an elephant with a foot length of
\[0\] centimeters to have a shoulder height of
\[5.89\] centimeters.
C
We would predict an elephant with a foot length of
\[0\] centimeters to have a shoulder height of
\[5.89\] centimeters.
(Choice D) We would predict an elephant with a foot length of
\[0\] centimeters to have a shoulder height of
\[0\] centimeters.
D
We would predict an elephant with a foot length of
\[0\] centimeters to have a shoulder height of
\[0\] centimeters.

Answer 1

The best interpretation of the slope of the regression line, which is \(5.89\), is captured by:

**(Choice A)** On average, each \(1\) centimeter increase in foot length was associated with a \(5.89\) centimeter increase in shoulder height.

This choice correctly interprets the slope as indicating the change in shoulder height resulting from a change in foot length. The other choices either offer incorrect interpretations or do not relate correctly to the slope's meaning.