SAT Two-variable data: models and scatterplots Practice Question 2 (Medium)

Question bank / Two-variable data: models and scatterplots

Math · Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisMedium

$x$	2	4	6	8
$y$	6.5	10.6	12.8	15.9

The table shows four data points. The line of best fit for a larger data set that includes these points is $y = 1.5x + 4$ . For which of the four points is the actual $y$ -value greater than the $y$ -value predicted by the line of best fit?

$(2, 6.5)$

$(4, 10.6)$

$(6, 12.8)$

$(8, 15.9)$

Show answer and explanation

Answer: B

Find each predicted value. At $x = 2$ : $1.5(2) + 4 = 7$ . At $x = 4$ : $10$ . At $x = 6$ : $13$ . At $x = 8$ : $16$ . Only at $x = 4$ is the actual value ( $10.6$ ) greater than the predicted value ( $10$ ); the other three points lie below the line.

Choice D has the largest $y$ -value, but a large $y$ -value doesn't mean the point is above the line; $15.9$ is below the predicted $16$ .

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