AP Statistics 5 Regression Analysis Questions
Review AP Statistics Unit 5 through scatterplots, correlation, regression predictions, residuals, least-squares coefficients, and model interpretation.
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- AP Statistics
Review AP Statistics Unit 5 through scatterplots, correlation, regression predictions, residuals, least-squares coefficients, and model interpretation.
Natural gas is used in some households to heat the home, to heat the water, and to cook. A utility company sent the following bar chart to a household to show the amount of natural gas, measured in therms (a unit of heat energy), that the household used last year. The chart shows the number of therms and the average monthly temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, for each month of the year.
Month and Average Monthly Temperature
4 Complete Response
Three parts essentially correct
3 Substantial Response
Two parts essentially correct and one part partially correct
2 Developing Response
Two parts essentially correct and no parts partially correct
OR
One part essentially correct and one or two parts partially correct
OR
Three parts partially correct
1 Minimal Response
One part essentially correct
OR
No parts essentially correct and two parts partially correct
Construct a graph showing therm use versus average monthly temperature.
Use a correctly labeled scatterplot of the twelve temperature–therm pairs.
Describe what the scatterplot reveals that the bar chart does not.
There is a strong, negative, somewhat curved relationship: colder months use more therms.
A newspaper in Germany reported that the more semesters needed to complete an academic program at the university, the greater the starting salary in the first year of a job. The report was based on a study that used a random sample of 24 people who had recently completed an academic program. Information was collected on the number of semesters each person in the sample needed to complete the program and the starting salary, in thousands of euros, for the first year of a job. The data are shown in the scatterplot below.
An independent researcher received the data from the newspaper and conducted a new analysis by separating the data into three groups based on the major of each person. A revised scatterplot identifying the major of each person is shown below.
Scoring
This question is scored in three sections. Section 1 consists of parts (a) and (b), section 2 consists of parts (c) and (d), and section 3 consists of part (e). Sections 1, 2, and 3 are scored as essentially correct (E), partially correct (P), or incorrect (I).
Section 1 is scored as follows:
Essentially correct (E) if the response includes the following five components:
In part (a) the response addresses the positive association.
In part (a) the response uses the positive association to justify that the scatterplot supports the newspaper report.
In part (b) the response correctly identifies the numerical value of the slope from the computer output.
In part (b) the response interprets the slope as the change in starting salary for each additional semester, in context.
In part (b) the interpretation of slope includes nondeterministic language (e.g., "predicted starting salary" or equivalent) when interpreting the slope.
Partially correct (P) if the response includes three or four of the five components.
Incorrect (I) if the response does not meet the criteria for E or P.
Notes:
- In part (a) the response can use phrases such as "positive association (correlation, relationship)," "increasing relationship," or describe a positive association (e.g., "the starting salaries are higher when there is a greater number of semesters") to satisfy component 1. However, describing the relationship between only two points does not satisfy this component.
- In part (a) comments about linearity and strength should be ignored, even if the response implies these are required (e.g., "Yes, because the relationship is strong, positive, and linear.").
- In part (a) responses that answer "no," "maybe," "kind of," "somewhat," or equivalent do not satisfy component 2.
- In part (a) a response that says "no, because the three clusters of points each have a negative association" does not satisfy component 1 or component 2.
- In part (a) no context is required, but variable names are required in part (b) to satisfy component 4.
- In part (b) a response that states the equation y^=34.018+1.1594x does not satisfy component 3 unless the slope is specifically identified or used in the interpretation.
- In part (b) a response that incorrectly identifies the numerical value of the slope can still satisfy components 4 and 5 using the incorrect value.
- In part (b) the 1-unit increase in number of semesters must be stated or implied to satisfy component 4 (e.g., for each semester, for every semester). A response that states or implies an unspecified number of semesters does not satisfy this component (for example, as semesters increase).
- In part (b) examples of nondeterministic language include "predicted starting salary," "expected starting salary," "estimated starting salary," "typical starting salary," "average starting salary," "starting salary, on average," "our model predicts," and so on. However, "about," "approximately," and "according to the model" do not satisfy component 5.
- In part (b) no units are required for the change in predicted starting salary (which means it is OK to say 1.1594 euros, 1159.40, 1.1594, 1,159.40 dollars, and so on).
- In all parts it is acceptable if a response refers to salary rather than starting salary.
Section 2 is scored as follows:
Essentially correct (E) if the response includes the following five components:
In part (c) the response states that the association is negative.
In part (c) the response states that the association is strong OR linear OR both.
In part (c) the response refers to both variables (semesters, salary) in context.
In part (d) the response correctly compares the three majors.
In part (d) the response provides reasonable values for the median salaries or refers to "median starting salaries" when describing a characteristic of the graph.
Partially correct (P) if the response includes three or four of the five components.
Incorrect (I) if the response does not meet the criteria for E or P.
Notes:
- In part (c) the response can use phrases such as "negative association (correlation, relationship)," "decreasing relationship," "inversely related," or describe a negative association (for example, "the starting salaries are smaller when there is a greater number of semesters") to satisfy component 1. However, describing the relationship between only two points does not satisfy this component.
- In part (c) responses that describe the relationship incorrectly as weak or nonlinear do not satisfy component 2, even if the other characteristic is described correctly.
- Only drawing a line on the scatterplot does not satisfy component 2.
- In part (d) a response that says "chemistry has the highest median starting salary and business has the lowest median starting salary" (or the equivalent) implies that physics is in the middle, and satisfies component 4.
- In part (d) if no values are provided for the medians, the response must use the phrase "median starting salary" at least once to satisfy component 5.
- In all parts it is acceptable if a response refers to salary rather than starting salary.
Section 3 is scored as follows:
Essentially correct (E) if the response states that there is a negative association for each of the majors AND the response notes the overall positive association.
Partially correct (P) if the response states that there is a negative association for each of the majors BUT does not note the overall positive association;
OR
if the response states that there is a negative association for one or two specific majors (for example, for business majors) AND the response notes the overall positive association.
Incorrect (I) if the response does not meet the criteria for E or P.
Notes:
- Additional ways to note the overall positive association include stating that the original report was correct, stating that majors that take longer to complete tend to have higher starting salaries, or the equivalent.
- A response that does not explicitly name the majors or refer to the three majors but makes a general statement such as "However, for an academic major, there is a negative association" satisfies the requirement to state the negative association for each of the majors.
- A response that states the original report was wrong, or incorrect, or should be retracted, etc., cannot satisfy the requirement to note the overall positive association. However, a response that says the original report might be misleading (or the equivalent) but still notes the overall positive association satisfies the requirement to note the overall positive association.
- In all parts it is acceptable if a response refers to salary rather than starting salary.
Complete Response
All three sections essentially correct
Substantial Response
Two sections essentially correct and one section partially correct
OR
Sections 1 and 2 partially correct and section 3 essentially correct
OR
Sections 1 and 3 essentially correct and section 2 incorrect
OR
Sections 2 and 3 essentially correct and section 1 incorrect
Developing Response
Sections 1 and 2 essentially correct and section 3 incorrect
OR
Section 1 essentially correct and sections 2 and 3 partially correct
OR
Sections 1 and 3 partially correct and section 2 essentially correct
OR
One section essentially correct and one section partially correct
OR
All three sections partially correct
Minimal Response
One section essentially correct and two sections incorrect
OR
Two sections partially correct and one section incorrect
OR
One section partially correct and two sections incorrect
Does the scatterplot support the newspaper report about number of semesters and starting salary? Justify your answer.
Part (a):
The scatterplot supports the newspaper report about number of semesters needed to complete an academic program and starting salary because it shows a positive association between these two variables.
The table below shows computer output from a linear regression analysis on the data.
Identify the slope of the least-squares regression line, and interpret the slope in context.
Part (b):
The slope is 1.1594. For each additional semester needed to complete an academic program, the predicted starting salary increases by €1,159.40.
Based on the people in the sample, describe the association between starting salary and number of semesters for the business majors.
Part (c):
For the business majors alone, there is a strong, negative, linear association between number of semesters and starting salary. Business majors who need a greater number of semesters to complete an academic program tend to have lower starting salaries.
Based on the analysis conducted by the independent researcher, how could the newspaper report be modified to give a better description of the relationship between the number of semesters and the starting salary for the people in the sample?
Part (e):
The newspaper report should be modified to account for major. Overall, majors that take longer to complete tend to have higher starting salaries, with chemistry the highest, physics the next highest, and business the lowest. However, within a major, students who take a greater number of semesters tend to have lower starting salaries.
A student measured the heights and the arm spans, rounded to the nearest inch, of each person in a random sample of 12 seniors at a high school. A scatterplot of arm span versus height for the 12 seniors is shown.
Let x represent height, in inches, and let y represent arm span, in inches. Two scatterplots of the same data are shown below. Graph 1 shows the data with the least squares regression line y^=11.74+0.8247x, and graph 2 shows the data with the line y=x.
GRAPH 1
GRAPH 2
Scoring
Parts (a), (b), and (c) are scored as essentially correct (E), partially correct (P), or incorrect (I).
Part (a) is scored as follows:
Essentially correct (E) if the response includes the following four components:
1. The relationship is approximately linear.
2. The relationship is positive.
3. There is a moderate to strong association (or relationship).
4. The response is given in context.
Partially correct (P) if the response includes only two or three of the four components.
Incorrect (I) if the response includes at most one of the four components.
Notes:
- Correlation alone is not sufficient to indicate a linear relationship. However, linear correlation is sufficient to indicate a linear relationship.
- Reporting that the correlation coefficient is 0.81, the correlation coefficient is close to 1.0, or some other value or range of values for the correlation coefficient is not sufficient to satisfy component 3.
Part (b) is scored as follows:
Essentially correct (E) if the response contains the following four components:
1. The line in Graph 2 is selected.
2. A reasonable explanation for selecting the line in Graph 2 that links the body shapes to the regions defined by the line is given. The explanation should indicate that square shapes (arm span is equal to height) are represented by points on the line, tall rectangle shapes (arm span less than height) are represented by points below the line, and short rectangle shapes (arm span is greater than height) are represented by points above the line.
3. Correct counting of body types demonstrated by reporting correct frequencies (3, 4, and 5) or reporting correct proportions (41=123,31=124, and 125) for the square, tall rectangle, and short rectangle body types, respectively.
4. The correct frequencies (3, 4, and 5) are reported in the table.
Partially correct (P) if the response includes only two or three of the four components.
Incorrect (I) if the response includes at most one of the four components.
Notes:
- Selecting the regression line on Graph 1 cannot satisfy either component 1 or component 2.
- To satisfy component 1 , it is sufficient to refer to the y=x line without explicitly mentioning Graph 2.
- Use of incorrect labels, such as regression line or least-squares regression line, in referring to the y=x line in Graph 2 is an incorrect use of terminology that should be strongly discouraged, but it is ignored in this scoring rubric.
- The explanation for selecting Graph 2 is acceptable if it explicitly includes at least two of the following: (i) square body shapes (arm span equal to height) are represented by points on the line, (ii) tall rectangle body shapes (arm span less than height) are represented by points below the line, or (iii) short rectangle body shapes (arm span greater than height) are represented by points above the line.
- Incorrectly counting the points on the y=x line in Graph 2 is considered a minor error. Frequencies (2, 4, and 5) are accepted for both component 3 and component 4. Reporting corresponding proportions (112,114,115) or (122,124,125) in the table satisfies component 3 but does not satisfy component 4.
- Frequencies reported in the table as (2, 5, 4) or (3, 5, 4), interchanging the counts for tall and short rectangle body shapes, satisfies component 3, but does not satisfy component 4. Reporting corresponding proportions, (112,115,114) or (123,125,124), in the table does not satisfy either component 3 or component 4.
Part (c) is scored as follows:
Essentially correct (E) if the response contains the following three components:
1. Correct formula for predicting arm span with 61 inserted for x.
2. Correct value for the predicted arm span.
3. Units for the predicted arm span given as inches.
Partially correct (P) if the response includes only two of the three components.
Incorrect (I) if the response includes at most one of the three components.
Notes:
- Any value for the predicted arm span between 61.5 and 62.5 is acceptable; values outside the interval do not satisfy component 2. This allows for inaccuracy in obtaining a value for the predicted arm span directly from the line displayed on Graph 1 and for rounding in applying the prediction formula; but it excludes predictions based on the y=x line and other unreasonable predictions.
- Reporting a prediction equation that is similar to the equation given in the stem, with 61 inserted for x, satisfies components 1 and 2 if the value of the predicted arm span is between 61.5 and 62.5 inches. Otherwise, neither of those two components is satisfied. This could occur if a student enters the data from the graph into a calculator to compute the least squares regression line, instead of using the formula provided in the stem.
4 Complete Response
All three parts essentially correct
3 Substantial Response
Two parts essentially correct and one part partially correct
2 Developing Response
Two parts essentially correct and one part incorrect
OR
One part essentially correct and two parts partially correct
OR
One part essentially correct, one part partially correct, and one part incorrect
OR
Three parts partially correct
1 Minimal Response
One part essentially correct and two parts incorrect
OR
Two parts partially correct and one part incorrect
Based on the scatterplot, describe the relationship between arm span and height for the sample of 12 seniors.
Part (a):
There is a moderately strong, positive, linear relationship between height and arm span so that taller students tend to have longer arm spans.
The criteria described in the table below can be used to classify people into one of three body shape categories: square, tall rectangle, or short rectangle.
For which graph, 1 or 2, is the line helpful in classifying a student's body shape as square, tall rectangle, or short rectangle? Explain.
The line in Graph 2 is the one that is helpful. For each student, the graph illustrates whether arm span is equal to height (points on the line), arm span is greater than height (points above the line), or arm span is less than height (points below the line).
Complete the table of classifications for the 12 seniors.
| Classification | Square | Tall Rectangle | Short Rectangle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Using the best model for prediction, calculate the predicted arm span for a senior with height 61 inches.
Part (c):
The predicted arm span is y^=11.74+0.8247x=11.74+0.8247(61)=62.05 inches.
A biologist gathered data on the length, in millimeters (mm), and the mass, in grams (g), for 11 bullfrogs. The data are shown in Plot 1.
From the data, the biologist calculated the least-squares regression line for predicting mass from length. The least-squares regression line is shown in Plot 2.
Official question visual
| Scoring for Question 1 Each essentially correct (E) part counts as 1 point, and each partially correct (P) part counts as 21 point. | |
|---|---|
| Score | |
| Complete Response | 4 |
| Substantial Response | 3 |
| Developing Response | 2 |
| Minimal Response | 1 |
| If a response is between two scores (for example, 221 points), use a holistic approach to decide whether to score up or down, depending on the strength of the response and quality of the communication. | |
Based on the scatterplot, describe the relationship between mass and length, in context.
The scatterplot reveals a strong, positive, roughly linear association between the mass and length of bullfrogs. There are no points that seriously deviate from the straight-line pattern of the points in the plot.
Essentially correct (E) if the response provides
a description that includes at least three of
components 1-4 and component 5:
1. Direction of association (positive or
increasing)
3. Form of association (linear or approximately
linear)
4. Unusual features (no points with large
discrepancies from the pattern (straight line) exhibited by most of the points on the plot)
5. Context (association between length and mass of bullfrogs)
Partially correct (P) if the response satisfies only one or two components out of components 1-4 and component 5
OR
if the response satisfies at least three out of
components 1-4 but does not satisfy
component 5.
Incorrect (I) if the response does not meet the
criteria for E or P.
Additional Notes:
- To satisfy component 4, it is sufficient to simply indicate that there are no unusual features.
- To satisfy component 5, it is minimally sufficient for the response to refer to the association or relationship between mass and length without explicitly mentioning bullfrogs.
- The strength of the response in part (a) may be considered if holistic scoring is needed.
Identify and interpret the slope of the least-squares regression line in context.
The value of the slope of the least-squares regression line is 6.086. This value indicates that the predicted mass of a bullfrog increases by 6.086 grams for each additional millimeter of length.
Essentially correct (E) if the response satisfies the following three components:
2. Provides an interpretation that references an
increase of a number of grams of mass for each one-millimeter increase in length
3. Indicates that the slope represents a change in
a prediction using non-deterministic
language such as "predicted," "estimated,"
"expected," or "average"
Partially correct (P) if the response satisfies only two of the three components.
Incorrect (I) if the response does not meet the
criteria for E or P.
Additional Notes:
- The value of the slope, 6.086, may be rounded to 6.09 or 6.1, but not to 6, to satisfy the numerical requirement in component 1.
- A response that only contains 6.086 in the interpretation satisfies component 1.
- A calculation of slope may satisfy component 1, provided that two points from the line are used in the calculation.
- Units of measurements must be correctly specified for both mass and length to satisfy component 2.
- It is not required to refer specifically to the "least-squares regression line."
Interpret the coefficient of determination of the least-squares regression line, r2≈0.819, in context.
The coefficient of determination is r2≈0.819.
This value indicates that 81.9\% of the variation
in bullfrog mass can be explained by variation in bullfrog length as described by the least-squares
line.
Essentially correct (E) if the response provides a correct interpretation of r2 in context.
Partially correct (P) if the response provides a generic interpretation (no context) OR if the response provides a reasonable but incorrect interpretation of r2 in context.
Incorrect (I) if the response does not satisfy the criteria for E or P.
Additional Notes:
- Correct interpretations of r2 include the concept that part of the variation in the response (dependent or y ) variable is explained by the linear relationship with the explanatory (independent or x ) variable. The response can take any of several equivalent forms, such as:
The proportion of the total variability in the dependent (response) variable y that is explained by the independent (explanatory) variable x.
The proportion of variation in y that is accounted for by the linear model.
The proportionate reduction of the total variation of the y-values that is associated with the use of the independent variable x.
The proportionate reduction in the sum of the squares of vertical deviations obtained by using the least-squares line instead of the sample mean to predict values of y.
- Correct interpretation of r2 must explicitly relate to the dependent variable. Mention of the data, predicted values, or no mention of the dependent variable are incorrect interpretations. Common incorrect interpretations include:
The percent (or proportion or part of the total) variability in the predicted y-values that is explained by the linear relationship between y and x.
The percent (or proportion or part of the total) variability in the data that is explained by the linear relationship between y and x.
The percent (or proportion or part of the total) variability that is explained by the linear relationship between y and x.
The percent (or proportion or part of the total) variability in y that is on average explained by the linear relationship between y and x.
- A reasonable but incorrect interpretation of r2 with context might include the following responses:
81.9\% of the variation in mass and length can be accounted for by the least-squares regression line.
81.9\% of the variability in predicted mass is accounted for by the length.
- For context, the response variable (y) must be identified as mass, and the explanatory variable (x) must be identified as length.
- An interpretation of the correlation between mass and length, r=0.819=0.905, is not considered a reasonable interpretation of r2.
- The value of the percentage (81.9\%) or proportion (0.819) of variation does not need to be specified, but if an incorrect value is specified, the score is lowered by one level, from E to P or from P to I.
- The strength of the response in part (c) may be considered if holistic scoring is needed.
From Plot 2, consider the residuals of the 11 bullfrogs.
Based on the plot, approximately what is the length and mass of the bullfrog with the largest absolute value residual?
The largest residual in absolute value belongs to the bullfrog with length 162 millimeters and mass 356 grams.
Scoring:
Essentially correct (E) if the response identifies the correct bullfrog, with length between 160 and 165 millimeters and mass between 350 and 375 grams.
Partially correct (P) if the response does not satisfy the complete criterion but identifies a relevant residual observation.
Incorrect (I) if the response does not meet the criteria for E or P.
Does the least-squares regression line overestimate or underestimate the mass of the bullfrog identified in part (d-i)? Explain your answer.
The least-squares regression line overestimates the mass of the bullfrog with length 162 millimeters. Plot 2 shows that the point for the bullfrog with length 162 millimeters is below the least-squares regression line.
Scoring:
Essentially correct (E) if the response explicitly indicates whether the linear model overestimates or underestimates mass for the identified bullfrog and provides a correct justification based on comparison with the least-squares regression line.
Partially correct (P) if the response satisfies only one of these two components.
Incorrect (I) if the response does not meet the criteria for E or P.