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Problem-Solving and Data Analysis Difficulty: Hard
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The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, x and y , for data set E. A line of best fit is shown. Data set F is created by multiplying the y-coordinate of each data point from data set E by 3.9 . Which of the following could be an equation of a line of best fit for data set F?

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Explanation

Choice A is correct. An equation of a line of best fit for data set F can be written in the form y=a+bx, where a is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the line of best fit and b is the slope. The line of best fit shown for data set E has a y-intercept at approximately 0,12. It's given that data set F is created by multiplying the y-coordinate of each data point from data set E by 3.9 . It follows that a line of best fit for data set F has a y-intercept at approximately 0,123.9, or 0,46.8. Therefore, the value of a is approximately 46.8 . The slope of a line that passes through points x1,y1 and x2,y2 can be calculated as y2-y1x2-x1. Since the line of best fit shown for data set E passes approximately through the point 12,30, it follows that a line of best fit for data set F passes approximately through the point 12,303.9, or 12,117. Substituting 0,46.8 and 12,117 for x1,y1 and x2,y2, respectively, in y2-y1x2-x1 yields 117-46.812-0, which is equivalent to 70.212, or 5.85 . Therefore, the value of b is approximately 5.85 , or approximately 5.9 . Thus, y=46.8+5.9x could be an equation of a line of best fit for data set F.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect. This could be an equation of a line of best fit for data set E, not data set F.