New
New
Year 10
Higher

Checking understanding of scatter graphs

I can plot and interpret data points on scatter graphs.

New
New
Year 10
Higher

Checking understanding of scatter graphs

I can plot and interpret data points on scatter graphs.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Data is given as pairs of values.
  2. The independent variable is placed on the horizontal axis.
  3. Placing the independent variable on the other axis reflects the data points in y=x but not the correlation type.

Common misconception

Pupils may be uncertain about which variable to plot on the horizontal axis if they are unsure about which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable.

Getting it wrong should not affect your interpretations of the data too much and sometimes neither variable might be dependent on the other. If you are unsure, consider which variable seems the most likely to be affecting the other in context.

Keywords

  • Bivariate data - Bivariate data has two variables, where each data point for one variable has a corresponding data point for the other variable.

  • Scatter graph - A scatter graph is a visual representation for bivariate data. It can be useful when determining the nature of the relationship between the variables.

  • Independent variable - An independent (explanatory) variable is a measure that is predicted to have an effect on another variable.

  • Dependent variable - A dependent (response) variable is a measure whose value is predicted to be affected by an explanatory variable.

Some of the scatter graphs in the second learning cycle contain links to an interactive version in Desmos. These could be used by the teacher to pupils to explore these datasets in more detail.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which line segment has a negative gradient?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Line segment A
Line segment B
Line segment C
Line segment D
Q2.
Which point on the graph has the coordinates (3, 1)? Point .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: D, d
Q3.
Which point on the graph has the coordinates (5, 3)? Point .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: F, f
Q4.
What are the coordinates of the point marked on this graph?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: (3, 2), (3,2), (3 , 2), (3 ,2), ( 3 , 2 )
Q5.
The value of $$a$$ on the horizontal axis is .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 75
Q6.
The value of $$b$$ on the vertical axis is .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 160

6 Questions

Q1.
A graph is a visual representation for bivariate data.
Correct Answer: scatter, Scatter
Q2.
What is a variable that is predicted to have an effect on another variable called?
Correct answer: independent variable
dependent variable
Correct answer: explanatory variable
response variable
Q3.
Match each type of variable to the axis it should be plotted on.
Correct Answer:Independent variable,horizontal axis

horizontal axis

Correct Answer:Dependent variable,vertical axis

vertical axis

Q4.
The table contains data taken from the Met Office about weather in Stornoway. Sofia plots a scatter graph with sunshine as the dependent variable. What coordinates should she plot for April?
An image in a quiz
(131, 200)
Correct answer: (200, 131)
(131, 0)
(0, 200)
(200, 0)
Q5.
The graph shows travel data from the ONS about the commuting distance and the total number of bus journeys in 2023 for different regions of the UK. Which point shows the lowest commuting distance?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Point A
Point B
Point C
Point D
Point E
Q6.
The scatter graph shows data taken from the ONS about house prices and annual income. Each point represents a region in England in 2023. Select the correct statements.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Regions in the North have a lower median house price.
Point B represents the highest median income in the South.
Correct answer: Point E represents the lowest median income in the North.
Correct answer: As median income increases, house prices tend to increase.
Point C represents the highest median house price in the South.