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91Ó°ÊÓ

The correlation between Fuel Efficiency (as measured by miles per gallon) and Price of 150 cars at a large dealership is \(r=-0.34\) Explain whether or not each of these possible conclusions is justified: a) The more you pay, the lower the fuel efficiency of your car will be. b) The form of the relationship between Fuel Efficiency and Price is moderately straight. c) There are several outliers that explain the low correlation. d) If we measure Fuel Efficiency in kilometers per liter instead of miles per gallon, the correlation will increase.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Conclusions a) and b) are weakly supported, while c) and d) are not justified.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Correlation

The given correlation coefficient, \(r = -0.34\), represents a negative relationship between Fuel Efficiency and Price. This means that as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease. However, the correlation is not very strong as it's closer to 0 than to -1.
02

Evaluating Conclusion A

Conclusion A states that paying more results in lower fuel efficiency. While a negative correlation supports this idea in a general sense, \(r = -0.34\) does not imply a strong relationship. Thus, this conclusion is suggested but not strongly justified given the weak correlation.
03

Evaluating Conclusion B

The correlation coefficient \(r = -0.34\) suggests a linear relationship but not a strong one. A correlation closer to -1 or 1 would indicate a stronger linear relationship. Therefore, the relationship between Fuel Efficiency and Price is likely a weakly linear one, making the term 'moderately straight' not entirely justified.
04

Evaluating Conclusion C

The correlation \(r = -0.34\) does not provide information about outliers directly. Outliers can influence the value of \(r\), but without more information or a visual analytics tool like a scatter plot, we cannot conclude that outliers are causing the low correlation.
05

Evaluating Conclusion D

Correlations are invariant under a linear change of scale, such as converting miles per gallon to kilometers per liter. Hence, measuring fuel efficiency using different units will not affect the correlation coefficient. Thus, this conclusion is not justified.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Understanding Negative Correlation
A negative correlation occurs when one variable increases while the other decreases. For the given exercise, the correlation between Fuel Efficiency and Price is described by the correlation coefficient, \( r = -0.34 \). This value indicates a negative relationship, meaning that generally, as the price of the car goes up, the fuel efficiency tends to go down. However, it's important to note that the correlation is not very strong. In statistics, correlation coefficients range from \( -1 \) to \( 1 \), where values closer to \( -1 \) or \( 1 \) imply a stronger relationship. Here, since \( -0.34 \) is closer to zero, the relationship is weak, thus suggesting some, but not a definitive, negative trend.
Assessing Linear Relationship
The term 'linear relationship' refers to a scenario where two variables move in a systematic way such that plotting them on a graph results in a line (even if it's not perfectly straight). In our exercise, the correlation coefficient of \( r = -0.34 \) suggests a weak linear relationship between Fuel Efficiency and Price. This means that, while there might be a tendency for one variable to change as the other does, the tendency is not very linear nor very strong. For a conclusion to be justified in saying the relationship is 'moderately straight', we would expect \( r \) to be closer to \( -1 \) or \( 1 \). Therefore, while a linear relationship exists, calling it moderately straight overstates the relationship's strength.
Influence of Outliers on Correlation
Outliers are unusual data points that don't fit with the general trend of the data. They can have a significant impact on the correlation coefficient \( r \). In the context of our exercise, the value \( r = -0.34 \) suggests some relationship but does not directly inform about the presence of outliers. Without additional analysis, like a scatter plot, it's challenging to determine if outliers are influencing this correlation. Outliers can potentially skew the correlation coefficient, making it weaker or stronger than it truly might be if those outliers weren't present. Therefore, without further visual data, it's premature to conclude that outliers necessarily explain the observed correlation.
Unit Conversion and Correlation
Change in measurement units, like converting miles per gallon to kilometers per liter, is a type of linear transformation. Correlation coefficients are invariant under such transformations, meaning that changing units does not affect the coefficient value. In the exercise, this principle applies, ensuring that \( r = -0.34 \) remains unchanged even if we measure fuel efficiency in different units. Thus, changing from miles per gallon to kilometers per liter will not increase or decrease the strength or value of the correlation. This conclusion is a fundamental concept of correlation that emphasizes the relative, rather than absolute, nature of correlation."

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Your Economics instructor assigns your class to investigate factors associated with the gross domestic product \((G D P)\) of nations. Each student examines a different factor (such as Life Expectancy, Literacy Rate, etc.) for a few countries and reports to the class. Apparently, some of your classmates do not understand Statistics very well because you know several of their conclusions are incorrect. Explain the mistakes in their statements below. a) "My very low correlation of -0.772 shows that there is almost no association between \(G D P\) and Infant Mortality Rate." b) "There was a correlation of 0.44 between \(G D P\) and Continent."

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that Honda Accords, Honda Civics, and Toyota Camrys are the cars most frequently reported stolen, while Ford Tauruses, Pontiac Vibes, and Buick LeSabres are stolen least often. Is it reasonable to say that there's a correlation between the type of car you own and the risk that it will be stolen?

Here are advertised horsepower ratings and expected gas mileage for several 2010 vehicles. (www.kbb.com) $$\begin{array}{|l|c|c|} \hline \text { Car } & \mathrm{hp} & \mathrm{mpg} \\ \hline \text { Audi } \mathrm{A} 4 & 211 & 30 \\ \text { BMW 3 series } & 230 & 28 \\ \text { Buick LaCrosse } & 182 & 30 \\ \text { Chevy Cobalt } & 155 & 37 \\ \text { Chevy Suburban 1500 } & 320 & 21 \\ \text { Ford Expedition } & 310 & 20 \\ \text { GMC Yukon } & 320 & 21 \\ \text { Honda Civic } & 140 & 34 \\ \text { Honda Accord } & 177 & 31 \\ \text { Hyundai Elantra } & 138 & 35 \\ \text { Lexus 15 350 } & 306 & 25 \\ \text { Lincoln Navigator } & 310 & 20 \\ \text { Mazda Iribute } & 171 & 28 \\ \text { Toyota Camry } & 169 & 33 \\ \text { Volkswagen Beetle } & 150 & 28 \\ \hline \end{array}$$ a) Make a scatterplot for these data. b) Describe the direction, form, and strength of the plot. c) Find the correlation between horsepower and miles per gallon. d) Write a few sentences telling what the plot says about fuel economy.

Is there an association between time of year and the nighttime temperature in North Dakota? A researcher assigned the numbers \(1-365\) to the days January 1 -December 31 and recorded the temperature at 2: 00 A.M. for each. What might you expect the correlation between DayNumber and Temperature to be? Explain.

If we assume that the conditions for correlation are met, which of the following are true? If false, explain briefly. a) A correlation of 0.02 indicates a strong positive association. b) Standardizing the variables will make the correlation \(0 .\) c) Adding an outlier can dramatically change the correlation.

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