Question the-st
The sterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and .
- The sterplot has 5 data points.
- The data points are in a linear pattern trending up from left to right.
- The data points have the following coordinates:
- (1 comma 3.0)
- (3 comma 5.0)
- (5 comma 6.0)
- (7 comma 8.0)
- (9 comma 10.0)
Which equation is the most appropriate linear model for this relationship?
The sterplot shows the relationship between two variables, x and y . The sterplot has 5
Medium-difficulty · SAT Math · Two-Variable Data & Models — Line of best fit. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.
Answer explanation
Choice D is correct. A linear model can be written in the form , where is the slope of the graph of the model in the xy-plane and is the y-intercept. The graph of an appropriate linear model for this relationship passes near the points and in the xy-plane. Two points on a line, and , can be used to find the slope of the line using the slope formula, . Substituting the points and for and , respectively, in the slope formula yields , or . Therefore, the value of for an appropriate linear model is approximately . Substituting for in yields . Since an appropriate linear model passes near the point , the approximate value of can be found by substituting for and for in the equation , which yields , or . Subtracting from both sides of this equation yields . Therefore, the value of for an appropriate linear model is approximately . Thus, of the given choices, is the most appropriate linear model for this relationship.
Alternate approach: A linear model can be written in the form , where is the slope of the graph of the model in the xy-plane and is the y-intercept. The sterplot shows that as the x-values of the data points increase, the y-values of the data points increase, which means the graph of an appropriate linear model has a positive slope. Of the given choices, is the only linear model whose graph has a positive slope.
Choice A is incorrect. The graph of this model has a negative slope, not a positive slope.
Choice B is incorrect. The graph of this model has a negative slope, not a positive slope.
Choice C is incorrect. The graph of this model has a negative slope, not a positive slope.
More Two-Variable Data & Models practice questions
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- The sterplot has 10 data points. The data points are in a linear pattern
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