Question

Terrence created a scatter plot to represent the total number of goals scored by each player on his soccer team in a season and the number of hours the player spent at soccer practice.

The scatter plot has 10 data points. The x-values of the data points extend from 10 to 90, and the y-values of the data points extend from 0 to 35.

Which graph shows the line of best fit for the data in Terrence's scatter plot?
A.
The scatter plot has 10 data points. The x-values of the data points extend from 10 to 90, and the y-values of the data points extend from 0 to 35. A line is line passing through the points (26, 30) and (45, 22).

B.
The scatter plot has 10 data points. The x-values of the data points extend from 10 to 90, and the y-values of the data points extend from 0 to 35. A line is line passing through the points (10, 0), (59, 26) and (70, 32).

C.
The scatter plot has 10 data points. The x-values of the data points extend from 10 to 90, and the y-values of the data points extend from 0 to 35. A line is line passing through the points (55, 26) and (59, 26).

D.
The scatter plot has 10 data points. The x-values of the data points extend from 10 to 90, and the y-values of the data points extend from 0 to 35. A line is line passing through the points (25, 16) and (55, 26).

Answer 1

B

Reason: The data show a positive association (more practice hours → more goals), so the line of best fit should have a positive slope. Choice A has a negative slope and C is horizontal (slope 0). Between the positive-slope choices, B’s line (through (10,0), (59,26), (70,32)) falls centrally through the data cloud and matches the upward trend, so B is the best fit.