The scatterplot below displays the yearly production in millions of pounds of flue-cured tobacco in the U.S.For what range of years is a linear model appropriate?
A)A linear model should be used for each pair of adjacent data points.
B)A single linear model is appropriate for the entire data set.
C)One linear model is appropriate for 1919 through about 1960 and another linear model for about 1960 through 2000.
D)A linear model should not be used for any part of the data.
E)None of these

Question

The scatterplot below displays the yearly production in millions of pounds of flue-cured tobacco in the U.S.For what range of years is a linear model appropriate? 
A)A linear model should be used for each pair of adjacent data points. 
B)A single linear model is appropriate for the entire data set. 
C)One linear model is appropriate for 1919 through about 1960 and another linear model for about 1960 through 2000. 
D)A linear model should not be used for any part of the data. 
E)None of these

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scatterplot shows that there is a change in the trend around 1960, with a significant increase in production. Therefore, it would be appropriate to use one linear model for the years 1919 through about 1960 and another linear model for about 1960 through 2000 to more accurately capture the changing trend. Using a single linear model for the entire data set (choice B) would not accurately represent the changing trend. Using a linear model for each pair of adjacent data points (choice A) would not be practical since it would result in many different models. A linear model should not be used for any part of the data (choice D) is not entirely true as it can be used for certain time periods. Therefore, the best choice is C.

The Scatterplot Below Displays the Yearly Production in Millions of Pounds