A scatterplot is produced to compare the size of a school building to the number of students at that school who play an instrument. There are 12 data points, each representing a different school. The points are widely dispersed on the scatterplot without a pattern of grouping. Which statement could be true?
Answer
A
As the size of a school building increases, the number of student musicians decreases because the scatterplot has a cluster that decreases from left to right.
B
There is no relationship between the size of a school building and the number of students who play an instrument because the scatterplot does not have a cluster.
C
As the size of a school building increases, the number of student musicians increases because the scatterplot has a cluster that increases from left to right.
D
The size of a school building is equal to the number of students who play an instrument because the scatterplot does not have a cluster.
Explanation
A scatterplot with points widely dispersed and no visible pattern suggests little or no relationship between the two variables. So it could be true that school-building size is unrelated to the number of student musicians. Choices A and C describe a downward or upward pattern, while D incorrectly says the two quantities are equal.
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