Math Problem Statement

Annual high temperatures in a certain location have been tracked for several years. Let X represent the year and Y the high temperature. Based on the data shown below, calculate the correlation coefficient (to three decimal places) between X and Y. Use your calculator!

Solution

To solve for the correlation coefficient rr between the two variables XX (year) and YY (temperature) based on the data provided, I will first extract the XX and YY values from the table. After that, I'll use the formula for the Pearson correlation coefficient, which is:

[ r = \frac{n(\sum XY) - (\sum X)(\sum Y)}{\sqrt{[n \sum X^2 - (\sum X)^2][n \sum Y^2 - (\sum Y)^2]}} ]

Where:

  • XX represents the year,
  • YY represents the high temperature,
  • nn is the number of data points (13 in this case).

Let me calculate this for you.The correlation coefficient rr between XX (the year) and YY (the high temperature) is approximately:

r=0.974r = 0.974

This indicates a strong positive linear relationship between the two variables.

Would you like any further details or have questions about this calculation?

Here are 5 questions that might help expand your understanding:

  1. What does a correlation coefficient close to 1 imply about the relationship between two variables?
  2. How would the interpretation of the correlation coefficient change if the result were negative?
  3. Can correlation coefficients ever exceed 1 or fall below -1?
  4. What assumptions are involved in calculating Pearson's correlation coefficient?
  5. How does the correlation coefficient differ from covariance?

Tip: While correlation shows the strength of a relationship between two variables, it doesn't imply causation! Always consider additional factors when interpreting results.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Statistics
Correlation
Data Analysis

Formulas

Pearson correlation coefficient formula: r = [n(ΣXY) - (ΣX)(ΣY)] / sqrt([nΣX^2 - (ΣX)^2][nΣY^2 - (ΣY)^2])

Theorems

Pearson's correlation theorem

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 11-12, College Level