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Scatter graphs and correlation

Plot bivariate data; describe correlation (positive, negative, none); draw a line of best fit.

GCSE expects you to plot, identify correlation type and strength, draw a line of best fit by eye (going through the centroid), and use it to predict (interpolate within the range; extrapolation is risky).

Worked examples
Hours studied vs exam score: positive correlation.
Outside temperature vs heating bill: negative correlation.
Line of best fit predicts y from x within the data range.

Frequently asked questions

Correlation = causation?
No. Correlation tells you variables vary together; it doesn't prove one causes the other.
Extrapolation?
Predicting outside the data range. Unreliable — relationships may not hold beyond the observed values.