Short Answer
A scatter plot visually represents the relationship between two variables using individual data points. By identifying key points, such as (1, 8) and (10, 1), a trend line can be drawn, revealing a negative relationship where one variable increases as the other decreases.
Step 1: Understand a Scatter Plot
A scatter plot is a graphical representation that showcases the relationship between two variables by plotting individual data points in a two-dimensional space. Each point on the plot corresponds to a pair of values from these variables. The overall pattern of the points can reveal trends, correlations, or variations in the data being analyzed.
Step 2: Identify the Best Fitting Points
To represent the trend of the data accurately, a line of fit, also known as a trend line, is drawn. For the given data points, the pair of coordinates (1, 8) and (10, 1) can be selected. This selection is beneficial because it encapsulates the overall spread of the data, covering the entire range from lowest to highest values effectively.
Step 3: Analyze the Trend Line
Once you have selected your points, you can draw the line of fit. In this case, the line will have a downward slope, indicating a negative relationship between the two variables. This trend suggests that as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease, which is a common trend visible in this set of data points.