Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A scatter plot is a type of graph used to display and assess the relationship between two numerical variables. Each point on the scatter plot represents an individual data point with its coordinates corresponding to the values of the two variables.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Scatter plots are used to visually inspect for potential linear relationships between two variables.
The pattern of points in a scatter plot can indicate positive correlation, negative correlation, or no correlation.
Outliers in a scatter plot are points that fall far from the general pattern of data.
A line of best fit, or regression line, can be drawn on a scatter plot to model the relationship between the variables.
The strength and direction of a linear relationship in a scatter plot can be quantitatively measured using the correlation coefficient.
A statistical measure that indicates the extent to which two variables change together. Values range from -1 (perfect negative correlation) to +1 (perfect positive correlation).
An observation point that is distant from other observations in the data set. In scatter plots, outliers can significantly affect interpretations and models.