AP Statistics

Practice: Regression Lines and Bivariate Statistics

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Review
In the questions in this assignment you'll do a regressional analysis and describe the
relationship (if any) between the explanatory and response variables. While the
computations should be straightforward using the your graphing calculator, think carefully
about how to interpret these values in the context of the question. For example, if you are
examining the linear relationship between age and income, remember to interpret the
regression coefficient in terms of the amount of change in income associated with a one-year
increase in age. Interpret the coefficient of determination (r2) in terms of the percentage of
variation in income that's explained by changes in age.
In some instances you'll also predict values of the response variable using the leastsquares regression line. If you recall, this simply involves substituting values into the
regression equation and computing the predicted values. Also think about whether your
predictions are examples of interpolation or extrapolation, and about the concerns that may
arise with either type of prediction.
Questions
1. The following table contains information about the robbery rate (number of robberies per
100,000 population) and percentage of urban population (percentage of people living in
urban as opposed to rural areas) across a set of states:
State

Massachusetts
Wisconsin
South Dakota
Virginia
South Carolina
Texas
Arizona
California
Arkansas
Hawaii

Percentage of
Urban Population

Robberies per
100,000 People

91
67
28
72
60
81
75
96
44
77

193
73
16
106
99
240
169
343
88
106

Source: Statistical Abstracts of the United States, 1988

Conduct a full regressional analysis using robbery rate as the response variable:
A. Sketch the scatterplot with the least-squares line, and sketch the residual plot.
Interpret your sketch. Remember, use robbery rate as the response variable,
since that's the value you're trying to predict. (1 point)
B. Write and interpret the correlation coefficient. (.5 points)
C. Write the regression equation and interpret the regression coefficient. (1 point)
D. Show and interpret the coefficient of determination. (.5 points)
E. State whether you think there is a relationship between the two variables, and
justify your answer. (1 point)
F. We know that the percentage of urban population in Idaho is 35%. We also
know that the percentage of urban population in Florida is 78%. Predict the
robbery rates in each of these states. Are these extrapolations or interpolation,
and are they valid predictions? (1 point)
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AP Statistics
Practice: Regression Lines and Bivariate Statistics

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2. Geothermal power is an important source of energy. Since the amount of energy

contained in 1 pound of water is a function of its temperature, you might wonder
whether water obtained from deeper wells contains more energy per pound.
Location of Well
El Tateo, Chile
Ahuachapan, El Salvador
Namafjall, Iceland
Lardarello (region), Italy
Matsukawa, Japan
Cerro Prieto, Mexico
Wairakei, New Zealand
Kizildere, Turkey
The Geysers, United States

Average (max.)
Drill Hole Depth (m)
650
1,000
1,000
600
1,000
800
800
700
1,500

Average (max.)
Temperature (C)
230
230
250
200
220
300
230
190
250

The data in the table are reproduced from an article on geothermal systems by A.J. Ellis.

A. Following steps A-E in the previous question, do a full regression analysis,

using hole depth as the explanatory variable. (4 points)
B. Using the regression equation, predict the temperature of the water in a well
with an average drill hole depth of 2000m. Is this a reliable prediction? (1 point)
3. Use the potency and temperature data below.
An experiment was conducted to observe the effect of an increase in temerature on the
potency of an antibiotic. Three 1-ounce portions of the antibiotic were stored for equal
lengths of time at each of these temperatures: 30, 50, 70, and 90. The potency
readings observed at each temperature of the experimental period are listed here:
Potency Readings, y
Temperature, x

38, 43, 29
30

32, 26, 33
50

19, 27, 23
70

14, 19, 21
90

As before, conduct a full regressional analysis (see 1A-1E) to answer this

question:
Within the sample data, is a one-degree increase in storage temperature of
antibiotics associated with a decrease in potency? If so, how much?
In this case, you'll need to determine which is the response variable in your
analysis. Looking at the question, which variable would you say the researcher
is more interested in predicting? The predicted variable is the response
variable. (You can also look at the research question as an interpretation of a
regression coefficientwhen you write a statement that interprets a regression
coefficient, which variable goes first?) (5 points)

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AP Statististics
Practice: Regression Lines and Bivariate Statistics

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4. Below is some hypothetical data that shows the Rating (an index of how many people
watch the show) and Average Cost for a 30-second advertisement for a number of game
shows:
GAME SHOW

Rating

Is That Real Hair?

Feng Shui Happy Booth
Love Signals!
How Many Worms?
Spin the Bottle
Wake that Possum!
Sit on a Potato
Name that Fruit!
The $2.00 Question

18.2
8.4
13.6
11.9
9.0
22.6
3.5
2.1
4.6

Average Cost for a 30

Second Ad ($)
$55,000
$20,000
$26,000
$39,000
$11,000
$75,000
$10,000
$5,000
$19,000

As before, conduct a full (five step) regressional analysis to answer this

question:
Within the sample data, is an increase in ratings associated with an increase
the average cost for a 30-second ad? If so, how much? (5 points)
5. Demographers often examine the relationship between income measures and population
factors such as births, deaths, marriages, or migration rates. You have the following
data on Per Capita Income in 1987 and the % Births that are "Low Birth Weight" across
a sample of states:
STATE

Alaska
Colorado
Delaware
Georgia
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Minnesota
Nebraska
New York
Ohio
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Wisconsin

Per Capita Income

(as of 1987)

% of Births of "Low Birth

Weight" (as of 1988)

$13,263
$12,271
$12,785
$11,406
$11,198
$8,961
$10,478
$12,281
$11,139
$13,167
$11,323
$11,045
$8,910
$9,288
$11,417

5.0
7.8
7.4
8.4
5.4
8.8
4.8
5.0
5.5
7.8
6.9
5.2
4.7
5.7
5.4

Source: Statistical Abstracts of the United States, 1991

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AP Statistics
Practice: Regression Lines and Bivariate Statistics

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As before, conduct a full regressional analysis to answer this question:

Within the sample data, is an increase in per capita income associated with
a decrease in the percentage of low birth weights? If so, how much?
(5 points)

Acknowledgements
Question 2:
This question is based on question 12.41 from page 550 of Introduction to Probability and Statistics, Tenth Edition,
by W. Mendenhall, R. Beaver, and B. Beaver. Copyright 1999 by Brooks Cole, division of Thompson Learning
Incorporated. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission of the publisher.
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