Line of Best Fit: Apply It 1

  • Recognize when a linear regression model will fit a given data set.
  • Use technology to create scatterplots, find the line of best fit, and find the correlation coefficient.
  • Find the estimated slope and [latex]y[/latex]-intercept for a linear regression model.
  • Use the line of best fit to predict values.

Midterm vs. Final Exam Score

Colleagues talking and pointing to a whiteboard with drawings of figures
Figure 1. After his midterm, George asks, “What can I expect on the final?” Here, he and his instructor look at past data to find the answer.

George, a current student, got a [latex]36[/latex] out of [latex]50[/latex] on the first midterm (C-). He asked his instructor, “If I don’t change my study approach, how do you predict I will do on the final exam?”

One way to answer this question is to look at the bivariate data of student scores from a previous class. In this case, we choose a random sample of past students who did not seek out additional tutoring and/or support between the midterm and the final.

The following is a data set from a random sample of past students who did not seek out advice on study skills or additional tutoring between the midterm and the final exam. To protect their anonymity, only first names are shown.

Student First Name

Midterm Score

(out of [latex]50[/latex] points)

Final Exam Score

(out of [latex]100[/latex] points)

Joe 42 64
Barak 52 94
Hillary 44 87
Donald 25 46
Cher 41 73
Katy 39 73
Taylor 33 53
Miley 40 77
Justin 35 60
Snoop 31 62
Bruno 37 71
Kanye 49 95
Leonardo 38 70
Rosie 45 80
Maya 49 80
Tyra 48 82
Selena 50 81
Steps to create the LSR:

Step 1: Under Enter Data, select Enter Own.

Step 2: Name the X (explanatory) and Y (response) variables appropriately.

Step 3: Copy and paste the data set.

Step 4: Under Plot Options, select Regression Line, and click the Submit Data button.

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