AP Statistics
Practice: Scatterplots and Bivariate Data
Page 1 of 5
When you're examining the relationship between two variables, you're looking at
bivariate dataa data set with two variables. A scatterplot is a two-dimensional graph
that displays a set of bivariate data on a single graph. It's the same type of graph used
in algebra to show the graphs of equations. In a scatterplot, the data are in the form of
pairs (x,y), and values are plotted along the horizontal x-axis and vertical y-axis.
Scatterplots are used to examine whether observable linear or non-linear patterns exist
in the data.
The variable on the x-axis is often called the explanatory, or independent, variable; the
variable along the y-axis is often called the response, or dependent, variable. An
explanatory variable is one that may explain or cause changes in a second variable. The
response variable is one that might be caused or explained by another variable.
However, not every relationship between two variables represents an instance of
causation. While it's possible the relationship indicates the two variables are correlated
with each other, a correlation only suggests the two variables are related. There's no
presumption that changes in one variable cause changes in the second variable.
Typically, scatterplots are used to examine the relationship between two quantitative
variables. For example, you could collect age and weight information from a set of
elementary and middle school students and graph the observations on a scatterplot to
see if there is a linear relationship between age and weight. In addition, this scatterplot
can be used to assess whether there is positive or negative relationship between our two
variables. A positive relationship exists in the instance where values of both variables
change in the same direction (for example, as age increases, weight also increases). A
negative relationship exists in the instance where values of both variables change in
opposite directions (for example, as age increases, weight decreases). Examples of
scatterplots showing positive and negative relationships are shown below:
Positive Relationship
Notice how the pattern of points moves from the bottom left corner to the top right
corner of the graph.
47.00000
18.00000
2.00000
13.00000
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Copyright 2011 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/TermsOfUse)
TI-83 screens are used with the permission of the publisher. Copyright 1996, Texas Instruments, Incorporated.
AP Statistics
Practice: Scatterplots and Bivariate Data
Page 2 of 5
Negative Relationship
Notice how the pattern of points moves from the top left corner to the bottom right
corner.
21.00000
y1
2.00000
24.00000
x1
46.00000
In this Independent Study you'll create and interpret scatterplots. Although it's easy to
create such plots by hand, the process can take a long time.
Here are some instructions for creating a scatterplot using the TI-83/TI-84, in case you
need a refresher.
Lets assume you have the following data for a set for 10 individuals. The x-value
represents the amount of change they have in their pocket (in cents), and the y-value
represents their age (in years).
Person #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
x
23
23
21
34
45
42
34
32
22
28
\
34
25
24
26
43
39
47
36
38
32
The steps to create a scatterplot on the TI-83/TI84 are:
1.
Clear two lists: Press STAT 4 2nd [L1] , 2nd [L2] ENTER.
2. Enter data from x into one of the lists (in this case, L1).
3. Enter data from y into a second list (in this case, L2).
4. Press 2nd [STAT PLOT].
5. Select 1 and turn ON Plot1.
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Copyright 2011 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/TermsOfUse)
TI-83 screens are used with the permission of the publisher. Copyright 1996, Texas Instruments, Incorporated.
AP Statistics
Practice: Scatterplots and Bivariate Data
Page 3 of 5
6. Set up the plot as shown:
7. Press ZOOM 9, and a scatterplot will appear.
8. Press TRACE to see the x- and y-values of the points. By pressing the forward
and back arrows, you'll be able to see the x- and y-values up and down the list
you entered. (The up and down arrow keys won't work in this mode.) If you want
to see the value for any location on the graph, press GRAPH and use any of the
arrow keys. This screen shot shows that the highlighted point has an x value of
23 and a y value of 34 (for person number 1, who has 23 cents in her pocket and
is 34 years old):
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Copyright 2011 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/TermsOfUse)
TI-83 screens are used with the permission of the publisher. Copyright 1996, Texas Instruments, Incorporated.
Page 4 of 5
AP Statistics
Practice: Scatterplots and Bivariate Data
Questions Part 1
1. A social skills training program was implemented for seven students with mild
handicaps in a study to determine whether the program caused improvement in
pre/post measures and behavior ratings. For one such test, these are the pre- and
posttest scores for the seven students:
Student
Earl
Ned
Jasper
Charlie
Tom
Susie
Lori
Pretest
101
89
112
105
90
91
89
Posttest
113
89
121
99
104
94
99
Data Source: Gregory K. Torrey, S.F. Vasa, J.W. Maag, and J.J. Kramer, Social Skills Interventions Across School Settings: Case Study
Reviews of Students with Mild Disabilities, Psychology in the Schools 29 (July 1992):248.
A. Draw a scatterplot relating posttest score to pretest score.
(You can create the scatterplot either by hand or by using the TI-83/TI-84.)
B. Describe the relationship between pre- and posttest scores using the graph in
part A. Do you see any trend?
2. Health-conscious Americans often consult the nutritional information on food
packages in an attempt to avoid food with large amounts of fat, sodium, or
cholesterol. The following information was taken from eight different brands of
American cheese slices:
Brand
Kraft Deluxe American
Kraft Velveeta Slices
Private Selection
Ralphs Singles
Kraft 2% Milk Singles
Kraft Singles American
Borden Singles
Lake to Lake American
Fat
(g)
Saturated
Fat (g)
Cholesterol
(mg)
Sodium
(mg)
Calories
7
5
8
4
3
5
5
5
4.5
3.5
5.0
2.5
2.0
3.5
3.0
3.5
20
15
25
15
10
15
15
15
340
300
520
340
320
290
260
330
80
70
100
60
50
70
60
70
A. Draw a scatterplot for fat and saturated fat. Describe the relationship.
B. Draw a scatterplot for fat and calories. Compare the pattern to that found in part
B.
C. Draw a scatterplot for fat versus sodium and another for cholesterol versus
sodium. Compare the patterns. Are there any clusters or outliers?
(You might want to enter each of the five columns into the TI-83/TI-84.)
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Copyright 2011 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/TermsOfUse)
TI-83 screens are used with the permission of the publisher. Copyright 1996, Texas Instruments, Incorporated.
Page 5 of 5
AP Statistics
Practice: Scatterplots and Bivariate Data
Questions Part 2
1. You have the following data from the 20 largest counties in the United States:
State/County
Median HH Income
(1989)
CA Los Angeles
IL Cook
TX Harris
CA San Diego
CA Orange
NY Kings
AZ Maricopa
MI Wayne
FL Dade
TX Dallas
WA King
PA Philadelphia
CA San Bernardino
CA Santa Clara
OH Cuyahoga
MA Middlesex
NY Suffolk
PA Allegheny
CA Alameda
NY Nassau
Source for data Bureau of
% Below Poverty
Level (1989)
Serious Crime Rate (per
100,000 residents) in
1989
$39,035
11.6
$39,296
11.1
$36,404
12.5
$39,798
8.1
$51,167
5.2
$30,033
19.5
$36,078
8.8
$34,099
16.9
$31,113
14.2
$36,982
10.4
$44,555
5.0
$30,140
16.1
$36,977
10.3
$53,670
5.0
$35,749
11.0
$52,112
4.2
$53,247
3.3
$35,338
8.7
$45,037
8.1
$60,619
2.5
Justice Statistics Crime and Justice, 1997
7,614
8,475
8,807
6,816
5,873
9,265
8,179
9,248
12,311
11,322
8,040
6,836
6,491
5,037
5,425
3,599
5,029
3,805
8,220
3,343
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs
You're interested in whether a relationship exists between the measures of income and
affluence and the serious crime rate in US counties. Create two different scatterplots:
Median Income vs. Serious Crime Rate and Percent Below Poverty Level vs. Serious
Crime Rate. Discuss what the scatterplots tell you about the relationships present in
these sets of variables. Describe the pattern of the relationship in each plot (linear vs.
non-linear, positive vs. negative, presence of clusters or gaps). In either case, can you
be certain by looking only at these data that a change in one variable causes a change in
another?
Acknowledgements
Question 1:
This is question 3.13 (a, b) from page 107 of Introduction to Probability and Statistics, Tenth Edition, by W.
Mendenhall, R. Beaver, and B. Beaver. Copyright 1999 by Brooks Cole, division of Thompson Learning
Incorporated. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission of the publisher.
Question 2:
This is question 3.15 (b, c, d) from page 112 of Introduction to Probability and Statistics, Tenth Edition, by W.
Mendenhall, R. Beaver, and B. Beaver. Copyright 1999 by Brooks Cole, division of Thompson Learning
Incorporated. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission of the publisher.
______________________________
Copyright 2011 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/TermsOfUse)
TI-83 screens are used with the permission of the publisher. Copyright 1996, Texas Instruments, Incorporated.
