which of the following is true about a trend line for data?
A the minimum data point always lies on the trend line. **
B the trend line describes the pattern in the data if one exists.
C every data point must lie on the trend line.
Agree
The correct answer is B: the trend line describes the pattern in the data if one exists.
A trend line is a line that is used to represent the general direction and pattern of a set of data points. It is not necessary for every data point to lie on the trend line. The trend line is drawn in a way that best fits the data points and represents the overall trend or pattern in the data. Therefore, option B is true, as the trend line describes the pattern in the data if a pattern exists.
The correct answer is B: the trend line describes the pattern in the data if one exists.
To determine the characteristics of a trend line, you need to understand what it represents. A trend line is a line that best fits the data points on a scatter plot, showing the general direction or pattern of the data. It helps to visualize the relationship between the dependent and independent variables.
Option A states that the minimum data point always lies on the trend line. This statement is not true because the trend line is not necessarily influenced by the minimum data point. The trend line represents the overall pattern in the data and is determined by the relationship between all the data points.
Option B, the correct answer, states that the trend line describes the pattern in the data if one exists. This is true because the trend line is used to identify the general trend or direction of the data points. It shows whether the data is increasing, decreasing, or displaying any other pattern.
Option C states that every data point must lie on the trend line, which is not true. The trend line serves as an approximation of the relationship between the variables, so not all individual data points will fall directly on the trend line. Some data points may deviate from the trend line due to natural variations or measurement errors.
In summary, the correct answer is B: the trend line describes the pattern in the data if one exists.