<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

We are interested in whether there is a relationship between the rank of a state and the year it entered the Union.

  • Let year be the independent variable and rank be the dependent variable.
  • What do you think the scatter plot will look like? Make a scatter plot of the data.
  • Why must the relationship be positive between the variables?
  • Calculate the least squares line. Put the equation in the form of: y ^ = a + bx size 12{y=a+ ital "bx"} {}
  • Find the correlation coefficient. What does it imply about the significance of the relationship?
  • Let’s say a fifty-first state entered the union. Based upon the least squares line, when should that have occurred?
  • Using the least squares line, how many states do we currently have?
  • Why isn’t the least squares line a good estimator for this year?
  • y ^ = 480 . 5845 + 0 . 2748 x size 12{y= - "480" "." "5845"+0 "." "2748"x} {}
  • 0.9553
  • 1934

Below are the percents of the U.S. labor force (excluding self-employed and unemployed ) that are members of a union. We are interested in whether the decrease is significant. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Labor )

Year Percent
1945 35.5
1950 31.5
1960 31.4
1970 27.3
1980 21.9
1986 17.5
1993 15.8

  • Let year be the independent variable and percent be the dependent variable.
  • What do you think the scatter plot will look like? Make a scatter plot of the data.
  • Why will the relationship between the variables be negative?
  • Calculate the least squares line. Put the equation in the form of: y ^ = a + bx size 12{y=a+ ital "bx"} {}
  • Find the correlation coefficient. What does it imply about the significance of the relationship?
  • Based on your answer to (e), do you think that the relationship can be said to be decreasing?
  • If the trend continues, when will there no longer be any union members? Do you think that will happen?

The next two questions refer to the following information: The data below reflects the 1991-92 Reunion Class Giving. (Source: SUNY Albany alumni magazine )

Class Year Average Gift Total Giving
1922 41.67 125
1927 60.75 1,215
1932 83.82 3,772
1937 87.84 5,710
1947 88.27 6,003
1952 76.14 5,254
1957 52.29 4,393
1962 57.80 4,451
1972 42.68 18,093
1976 49.39 22,473
1981 46.87 20,997
1986 37.03 12,590

We will use the columns “class year” and “total giving” for all questions, unless otherwise stated.

  • What do you think the scatter plot will look like? Make a scatter plot of the data.
  • Calculate the least squares line. Put the equation in the form of: y ^ = a + bx size 12{y=a+ ital "bx"} {}
  • Find the correlation coefficient. What does it imply about the significance of the relationship?
  • For the class of 1930, predict the total class gift.
  • For the class of 1964, predict the total class gift.
  • For the class of 1850, predict the total class gift. Why doesn’t this value make any sense?
  • y ^ = 569 , 770 . 2796 + 296 . 0351x size 12{y= - "569","770" "." "2796"+"296" "." "0351"} {}
  • 0.8302
  • $1577.48
  • $11,642.68
  • -$22,105.33

We will use the columns “class year” and “average gift” for all questions, unless otherwise stated.

  • What do you think the scatter plot will look like? Make a scatter plot of the data.
  • Calculate the least squares line. Put the equation in the form of: y ^ = a + bx size 12{y=a+ ital "bx"} {}
  • Find the correlation coefficient. What does it imply about the significance of the relationship?
  • For the class of 1930, predict the average class gift.
  • For the class of 1964, predict the average class gift.
  • For the class of 2010, predict the average class gift. Why doesn’t this value make any sense?

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Collaborative statistics homework book: custom version modified by r. bloom. OpenStax CNX. Dec 23, 2009 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col10619/1.2
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Collaborative statistics homework book: custom version modified by r. bloom' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask