Skip to content
Skip to main content

About this free course

Download this course

Share this free course

Teaching mathematics
Teaching mathematics

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

3.3 Scatter graphs

So far this week, you have mainly focused on graphs and charts which are used to display single variables.

In this section you will consider bivariate data, which will involve looking at data for two variables at once. One example would be to look at the sales of umbrellas per day alongside the hours of rainfall per day.

Scatter graphs show the relationship between two sets of variables. By looking at a scatter graph you can see whether there is a link between two variables.

When there is a link it is called correlation.

Correlation

Scatter graphs can have positive correlation, negative correlation, or no correlation.

Positive correlation means as one variable increases, so does the other variable (Figure 26). They have a positive connection.

For example: as it snows more, sales of de-icer sprays go up.

A scatter graph showing a positive correlation
Figure 26 A scatter graph showing a positive correlation

Negative correlation means as one variable increases, the other variable decreases (Figure 27). They have a negative connection.

For example: as the temperature increases, fewer hot chocolate products are sold.

A scatter graph showing a negative correlation
Figure 27 A scatter graph showing a negative correlation

No correlation means there is no connection between the two variables (Figure 28).

For example: an increase in rainfall in the UK and the sales of bananas in supermarkets.

A scatter graph with no labelled axes showing no correlation.
Figure 28 A scatter graph showing no correlation

Activity 14 Expected correlation

Timing: Allow 5 minutes

Would you expect there to be a positive correlation, a negative correlation, or no correlation between the following pairs of variables?

  • a.age and weight
  • b.cold drinks sales and temperature
  • c.height and intelligence

Discussion

  • a.In children, you might expect a correlation between age and weight but with adults, you would not expect a correlation.
  • b.Yes, in hot weather, people are more likely to buy cold drinks.
  • c.No, there is no relationship between height and intelligence.