sat suite question viewer
The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and .
Which equation is the most appropriate linear model for this relationship?
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 scatterplot 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.