A.–0.83
B.–0.21
C.0.21
D.0.83
The scatter plot shows data points that, overall, decrease in value as the x-value increases. This indicates a negative relationship between the variables.
Although the trend is negative, the points are scattered and do not lie close to a straight line. A strong negative correlation (close to –1) would show points tightly clustered around a downward-sloping line. Here, the spread is relatively large, implying a weak negative correlation.
Among the given options:
The best fit is the weak negative correlation, which is –0.21.
Correlation coefficients are widely used in statistics to measure the strength of linear relationships. Understanding whether a relationship is strong or weak helps in making decisions, such as determining whether it’s worth building predictive models or further exploring the relationship.