State mean SAT mathematics scores

took the SAT Reasoning test.

State mean SAT mathematics scores Examine the relationship between percent taking the SAT and the state mean score on the mathematics part of the SAT.

State mean SAT mathematics scores Examine the relationship between percent taking the SAT and the state mean score on the mathematics part of the SAT. A scatterplot shows the relationship between two quantitative variables measured on the same individuals.scatterplotquantitative variablesindividuals

Which makes more sense “Mean score” helps explain “percent taking” Or “Percent taking” will help explain “mean score.”

Which makes more sense “Mean score” helps explain “percent taking” Or “Percent taking” will help explain “mean score.” So “percent taking” is the explanatory variable and “mean score” is the response variable.explanatory variableresponse variable

The overall pattern moves from upper left to lower right.

States in which higher percents of high school graduates take the SAT tend to have lower mean SAT mathematics scores. mean

The overall pattern moves from upper left to lower right. States in which higher percents of high school graduates take the SAT tend to have lower mean SAT mathematics scores. mean There is a negative association between the two variables.negative associationvariables

The overall pattern moves from upper left to lower right. States in which higher percents of high school graduates take the SAT tend to have lower mean SAT mathematics scores. mean We call this a negative association between the two variables.negative associationvariables The form of the relationship is roughly a straight line

Most states fall into two distinct clusters.

The ACT states cluster at the left and the SAT states at the right.

Most states fall into two distinct clusters. The ACT states cluster at the left and the SAT states at the right. States with similar percents taking the SAT tend to have roughly similar mean SAT math scores.mean

CONCLUDE: Percent taking explains much of the variation among states in average SAT mathematics score.

CONCLUDE: Percent taking explains much of the variation among states in average SAT mathematics score. SAT states as a group have lower mean SAT scores than ACT states.mean

CONCLUDE: Percent taking explains much of the variation among states in average SAT mathematics score. SAT states as a group have lower mean SAT scores than ACT states.mean States in which a higher percent of students take the SAT tend to have lower mean scores because the mean includes a broader group of students.mean