Introduction

A scatterplot is a graph that is used to compare two different data sets.

 

City

Average January
High Temperature (°F)

Average July
High Temperature (°F)

College Station

61

95

Austin

62

96

Longview

58

94

Wichita Falls

54

97

Victoria

65

94

McAllen

71

97

San Angelo

60

95

El Paso

58

95

Amarillo

51

91

A scatterplot is created by rewriting the table values as a set of ordered pairs, and plotting one variable along the x-axis and one variable along the y-axis.

scatterplot of average July high temperature versus average January high temperature
 
researcher examining data

Scatterplots are typically used to determine if there is a relationship between the two variables. Researchers, engineers, and statisticians frequently use scatterplots to look for these relationships since they are a visual representation. In a scatterplot, you may spot trends that you don't easily see in a data table.

In this lesson, you will investigate ways to distinguish between different types of relationships that can be presented in a scatterplot. If the relationship is a linear one, then you will also use a trend line to make predictions.

Distinguishing Between Linear and Non-Linear Associations

In this section, you will compare linear and non-linear associations in order to distinguish between the two types of association in bivariate data. An association between two data sets occurs when there is a relationship between the values in one data set and the values in the other data set.

Use The ScatterPlot grapher by clicking the image below. The grapher will open in a new tab or window.

screen shot from the Shodor interactive scatterplot grapher

Click for additional directions on how to use the grapher.

1. The table below contains data relating the weight of an alligator in pounds to the length of an alligator in inches.

Alligator Size
Weight of Alligator
(pounds)
Length of Alligator
(inches)
86
83
88
70
72
61
74
54
61
44
90
106
89
84
68
39
76
42
114
197
90
102
78
57
94
130
74
51
147
640
58
28
86
80
94
110
63
33
86
90
69
36
72
38
128
366
85
84
82
80

Copy the numeric portion of the data only (i.e., do not copy the row headers). Paste the data into the Data box of the grapher.

2. In the grapher, use the radio buttons to show the Light Grid Lines and change the plot type to Scatter.

Image showing Light Grid Lines radio button and Scatter radio button selected

3. Click the Plot/Update button to generate a scatterplot.

See a sample graph.

4. Do the data points appear to follow a linear trend?

5. Do the data points represent a reasonably constant rate of change?

Use The Scatter Plot grapher by clicking the image below. The grapher will open in a new tab or window.

screen shot from the Shodor interactive scatterplot grapher
 
  1. The table below contains data relating the length of an alligator in centimeters to the belly width of an alligator in centimeters.
    Alligator Size
    Length of Alligator
    (centimeters)
    Belly Width of Alligator
    (centimeters)
    45
    9
    48
    10
    48
    8
    50
    11
    55
    11
    56
    13
    60
    12
    62
    13
    65
    14
    68
    14
    70
    15
    72
    17
    76
    17
    80
    18
    82
    17
    84
    19
    88
    20
    90
    21
    92
    23
    94
    22
    100
    23
    103
    23
    105
    24
    107
    26

    Copy the numeric portion of the data only (i.e., do not copy the row headers). Paste the data into the Data box of the grapher.

  2. In the grapher, use the radio buttons to show the Light Grid Lines and change the plot type to Scatter.
    Image showing Light Grid Lines radio button and Scatter radio button selected
  3. Click the Plot/Update button to generate a scatterplot. Use the scatterplot to answer the questions below.

    See a sample graph.

  4. Do the data points appear to follow a linear trend?

  5. Do the data points represent a reasonably constant rate of change?

Data sets could have a linear association or a non-linear association. But not all data sets have an association. For example, consider the graph below that shows the relationship between the population according to the 2010 U.S. Census of each state and that state’s average 8th grade math score on a national mathematics test in 2013.

 

Does the data set appear to show a linear association, a non-linear association, or no association?

Pause and Reflect

  1. When you look at a scatterplot of data, how can you tell the difference between the appearance of the scatterplot with a linear association or a scatterplot with a non-linear association?
  2. How do the rates of change for linear associations and non-linear associations compare?

Practice

For each of the data sets below, decide whether the scatterplot best represents a linear association or non-linear association.

1. 

2. 

3. 

Distinguishing Between Positive and Negative Linear Associations

In the last section, you used scatterplots to distinguish between linear associations and non-linear associations. In this section, you will use scatterplots to distinguish between positive linear associations and negative linear associations. In a linear association, data will appear to be clustered around a trend line. Data are said to be clustered when the data values seem to be gathered around a particular value.

Describing Characteristics of Positive Trends
In this section, you will practice creating a scatterplot, and then use that scatterplot to analyze a relationship that exhibits a positive trend.

Use The ScatterPlot grapher by clicking the image below.

Click for additional directions on how to use the grapher.

  1. The table below contains data collected twice each month regarding the number of jars of peach preserves sold at a general store in Fredericksburg, Texas, and the number of songs that are downloaded in New York City.
    Semi-Monthly Data Collection
    Week
    Number of Jars of Peach Preserves Sold in Fredericksburg, Texas
    Songs Downloaded in New York City (thousands)
    January 1
    8
    16
    January 15
    15
    35
    February 1
    17
    32
    February 15
    11
    28
    March 1
    19
    40
    March 15
    25
    55
    April 1
    30
    60
    April 15
    31
    70
    May 1
    33
    75
    May 15
    37
    80
    June 1
    35
    72
    June 15
    32
    76
    July 1
    28
    55
    July 15
    15
    33
    August 1
    22
    50
    August 15
    24
    50
    September 1
    28
    58
    September 15
    17
    40
    October 1
    16
    36
    October 15
    8
    20
    November 1
    13
    31
    November 15
    17
    35
    December 1
    11
    20
    December 15
    15
    37

Click here to open table in a new tab.

Copy the data from the Number of Jars of Peach Preserves column and Songs Downloaded column. Paste the data into the Data box of the grapher.

2.  In the grapher, use the radio buttons to show the Light Grid Lines and change the plot type to Scatter.

grapher

3. Click the Plot/Update button to generate a scatterplot. Use the scatterplot to answer the questions below.

See a sample graph.

4. Do the data points appear to follow a linear association? How can you tell?

5. As you read the graph from left to right, do the points seem to move upward or downward? 

6. As the number of jars of peach preserves sold in Fredericksburg, Texas increases, what happens to the number of songs downloaded in New York City?peach

7. If a greater number of jars of peach preserves are sold in Fredericksburg, what can you predict will happen to the number of songs downloaded in New York City?

8. Do you think that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the number of jars of peach preserves sold in Fredericksburg, Texas, and the number of songs that is downloaded in New York City? Explain your answer.

9. If a trend line were found, would it have positive or negative slope?

10. Do you think that the relationship between the number of jars of peach preserves sold in Fredericksburg, Texas, and the number of songs that is downloaded in New York City has a positive or negative association? Why or why not?

Describing Characteristics of Negative Trends

Use The ScatterPlot grapher by clicking the image below.

screen shot from the Shodor interactive scatterplot grapher

Click for additional directions on how to use the grapher.

 

  1. The table below contains data describing different U.S. cities’ latitude (in degrees North from the equator) and the city’s average July high temperature.

    City

    Latitude (°N)

    Average July High Temperature (°F)

    Atlanta, Georgia

    33.75

    89

    Austin, Texas

    30.25

    96

    Baltimore, Maryland

    39.3

    87

    Birmingham, Alabama

    33.5

    91

    Boston, Massachusetts

    42.6

    81

    Buffalo, New York

    43

    80

    Charlotte, North Carolina

    35.25

    89

    Chicago, Illinois

    41.8

    84

    Cincinnati, Ohio

    39

    87

    Cleveland, Ohio

    41.3

    83

    Columbus, Ohio

    40

    85

    Dallas, Texas

    32.75

    96

    Denver, Colorado

    39.75

    88

    Detroit, Michigan

    42.3

    83

    Hartford, Connecticut

    41.8

    85

    Houston, Texas

    30

    94

    Indianapolis, Indiana

    39.75

    85

    Jacksonville, Florida

    30.2

    92

    Kansas City, Missouri

    39

    90

    Louisville, Kentucky

    38.25

    89

    Memphis, Tennessee

    35.1

    92

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    43

    80

    Minneapolis, Minnesota

    45

    83

    Nashville, Tennessee

    36.2

    89

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    30

    91

    New York, New York

    40.8

    84

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

    35.5

    94

    Orlando, Florida

    28.5

    92

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    40

    87

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    40.5

    83

    Portland, Oregon

    45.5

    81

    Providence, Rhode Island

    41.8

    83

    Raleigh, North Carolina

    35.75

    90

    Richmond, Virginia

    37.5

    90

    Riverside, California

    34

    95

    Rochester, New York

    43.2

    81

    Sacramento, California

    38.6

    92

    Salt Lake City, Utah

    40.75

    93

    San Antonio, Texas

    29.5

    95

    San Jose, California

    37.3

    82

    Seattle, Washington

    47.6

    76

    St. Louis, Missouri

    38.6

    89

    Tampa, Florida

    28

    90

    Virginia Beach, Virginia

    36.8

    87

    Washington, DC

    38.8

    88

Copy the data from the Latitude (°N) column and Average July High Temperature (°F) column. Paste the data into the Data box of the grapher.

2. In the grapher, use the radio buttons to show the Light Brid Lines and change the plot type to Scatter.

grapher

3. Click the Plot/Update button to generate a scatterplot. Use the scatterplot to answer the questions below.

See a sample graph.

4. Do the data points appear to follow a linear association? How can you tell?

5. As you read the graph from left to right, do the points seem to move upward or downward? 

6. As the latitude of the city increases, what happens to the city’s average July high temperature?

7. If a randomly chosen city has greater latitude, what can you predict will be that city’s average July high temperature? 

8. Do you think that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the latitude of a city and that city's average July high temperature? Explain your answer.

9. If a trend line were found, would it have positive or negative slope?

10. Do you think that the relationship between the latitude of a city and that city's average July high temperature has a positive or negative association? Why or why not?

Pause and Reflect

  1. How can you tell from a scatterplot whether a set of data shows a positive linear association or a negative linear association? (Hint: think about the slope of the line approximating the data.)
  2. How could a trend line help you to determine if the slope is positive or negative?

Practice

Determine whether each of the graphs below shows a positive linear association or a negative linear association.

1. 
screen shot from the Shodor interactive scatterplot grapher

2. 
screen shot from the Shodor interactive scatterplot grapher

Using Trend Lines to Make Predictions

In the last section, you studied the difference between positive linear associations and negative linear associations. Once you know that a data set has a linear association, you can use a trend line to make predictions. In this section, you will practice generating a trend line and using that trend line to make predictions from the data.

The graph below shows the relationship between the length of an alligator (in centimeters) and the belly width of an alligator (in centimeters).

scatterplot showing belly width versus length

Click and drag the circles below to place a trend line on the graph. Your trend line will not connect every point, but should follow the trend in the data.


Use the trend line you estimated in the graph to answer the questions below.

  1. What is the y-intercept, or starting point, of your trend line?
  2. What is the approximate slope of your trend line?
  3. Use your trend line to estimate the belly width of an alligator that has a length of 30 centimeters.
  4. Use your trend line to estimate the length of an alligator that has a belly width of 35 centimeters.

Pause and Reflect

How does a trend line help you to make predictions from a scatterplot?

Practice

1. The graph below shows the relationship between the amount of television watched in one week and a student’s grade point average.

Graph of Television Watched vs Grade Point Average

Use a trend line to estimate the grade point average a student would have if they watched 27 hours of television each week.

2. The scatterplot below shows the relationship between the sales at an ice cream store and the outdoor air temperature.

Graph of Sales vs Temperature for Ice Cream Sales

Use a trend line to estimate the temperature required for $700 in ice cream sales.

Summary

There are four types of relationships that you analyzed in this lesson.

Positive Linear Association

man holding dolar bill split in half

A relationship with a positive linear association is one in which both variables increase at the same time at an almost constant rate.

In this example, each point represents the amount of sleep that a student had and the grade that they received on a recent math quiz. As the amount of sleep increases, the math grade increases.

 

 

 

Negative Linear Association

three judges each holding a scorecard of ten

A relationship with a negative linear association is one in which as one variable increases, the other variable decreases at an almost constant rate.

In this example, each point represents the total points that a player scored and the number of penalties they received during a recent game. As the number of penalties increases, the total points scored decreases. Likewise, as the total points scored increases, the number of penalties received decreases.

 

Non-Linear Association

man holding dolar bill split in half

A relationship with a non-linear association is one in which as one variable increases, the other variable changes in a way that is not constant but is predictable.

In this example, as the number of days increases, the number of bacteria in a Petri dish increases. However, the number of bacteria does not increase at a constant rate, as it would for a positive linear association. Instead, the data appear to follow a curve, which is a non-linear relationship.

 

 

 

No Association

man holding dolar bill split in half

Sometimes, a relationship shows no trend. In this case, there is no detectable pattern in the data that allows you to say that as one variable changes, the second variable changes in a particular way. In this example, each point represents a student's shoe size and his or her recent social studies exam score. There does not appear to be a relationship between the shoe size and the exam score.