Scatterplot
Definition
A scatterplot is a graph that displays the relationship between two quantitative variables. It uses dots to represent individual data points and shows how they are distributed along the x and y axes.
Analogy
Imagine you have a scatterplot of the number of hours students study and their test scores. Each dot on the graph represents a student, and you can see if there's a pattern between studying more hours and getting higher scores or vice versa.
Related terms
Correlation Patterns: Correlation patterns refer to the direction (positive or negative) and strength (strong or weak) of the relationship shown in a scatterplot.
Explanatory Variable: The explanatory variable is the independent variable in a scatterplot, which is used to explain or predict changes in the dependent variable. For example, in our previous analogy, the number of hours studied would be the explanatory variable.
Response Variable: The response variable is the dependent variable in a scatterplot, which is affected by changes in the explanatory variable. In our analogy, test scores would be considered as the response variable.
"Scatterplot" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (5)
AP Statistics - 2.4 Representing the Relationship Between Two Quantitative Variables
AP Statistics - 2.6 Linear Regression Models
AP Statistics - 2.7 Residuals
AP Statistics - 2.9 Analyzing Departures from Linearity
AP Statistics - 9.3 Justifying a Claim About the Slope of a Regression Model Based on a Confidence Interval
Additional resources (2)
Practice Questions (15)
- What does it mean if the points in a scatterplot are widely scattered around a line with a slope of zero?
- In a scatterplot, what does it mean if the points are tightly clustered around a line with a positive slope?
- What does a scatterplot with a curved form indicate?
- How is the direction of a scatterplot determined?
- What does the strength of a scatterplot describe?
- What are clusters in a scatterplot?
- What are outliers in a scatterplot?
- What is an influential point in a scatterplot?
- How is the correlation between two variables typically described in a scatterplot?
- What does a scatterplot with a strong correlation indicate?
- How do clusters and outliers affect the interpretation of a scatterplot?
- What is the difference between an outlier and a high leverage point in a scatterplot?
- What is the purpose of a scatterplot in representing the relationship between two quantitative variables?
- In a scatterplot, what is the role of the horizontal axis (x-axis)?
- How is the form of a scatterplot described?
Resources
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