Checking understanding of scatter graphs
I can plot and interpret data points on scatter graphs.
- Year 10
Checking understanding of scatter graphs
I can plot and interpret data points on scatter graphs.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Data is given as pairs of values.
- The independent variable is placed on the horizontal axis.
- Placing the independent variable on the other axis reflects the data points in y=x but not the correlation type.
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.
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.
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which line segment has a negative gradient?

Q2.Which point on the graph has the coordinates (3, 1)? Point .

Q3.Which point on the graph has the coordinates (5, 3)? Point .

Q4.What are the coordinates of the point marked on this graph?

Q5.The value of $$a$$ on the horizontal axis is .

Q6.The value of $$b$$ on the vertical axis is .

Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A graph is a visual representation for bivariate data.
Q2.What is a variable that is predicted to have an effect on another variable called?
Q3.Match each type of variable to the axis it should be plotted on.
Independent variable - horizontal axis
Dependent variable - 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?

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?

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.
