In order for applicants to work for the foreign-service department, they must take a test in the language of the country where they plan to work. The data below show the relationship between the number of years that
Applicants have studied a particular language and the grades they received on the proficiency exam. What is
The best predicted value for y given x = 5.5? Assume that the variables x and y have a significant correlation. $$\begin{array} { l | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | }
\text { Number of years, } \mathrm { x } & 3 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 6 & 2 & 7 & 3 \
\hline \text { Grades on test, } \mathrm { y } & 61 & 68 & 75 & 82 & 73 & 90 & 58 & 93 & 72
\end{array}$$
A)84
B)82
C)80
D)86

Question

In order for applicants to work for the foreign-service department, they must take a test in the language of the country where they plan to work. The data below show the relationship between the number of years that
Applicants have studied a particular language and the grades they received on the proficiency exam. What is
The best predicted value for y given x = 5.5? Assume that the variables x and y have a significant correlation. $$\begin{array} { l | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } 
\text { Number of years, } \mathrm { x } & 3 & 4 & 4 & 5 & 3 & 6 & 2 & 7 & 3 \
\hline \text { Grades on test, } \mathrm { y } & 61 & 68 & 75 & 82 & 73 & 90 & 58 & 93 & 72
\end{array}$$
A)84
B)82
C)80
D)86

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given the data, the best way to predict the value of y for x = 5.5 is to find a trend in the data. The data suggests that as the number of years of study increases, the grades on the test also increase. Without performing a detailed statistical analysis, which cannot be done with the information provided, we can estimate the trend. Looking at the grades for years close to 5.5, such as 5 years (82) and 6 years (90), a grade of 84 for 5.5 years seems reasonable and falls between these two points, suggesting a linear relationship or trend.

In Order for Applicants to Work for the Foreign-Service Department