Pre-unit diagnostic assessment
Assess students’ ability to • write a linear equation and interpret it in a context; • determine a rate of change and initial value given several data points that exhibit a linear relationship; • write an equation for a linear relationship; • use the equation to make predictions; • interpret the slope and intercept of a linear equation in a context.
In this unit, students build on the statistical work they did in grade 8. Using technology, they represent data on two variables on a scatter plot, find the line of best fit, and interpret the slope and intercepts in context. They assess the fit of a line to data more precisely by plotting and analyzing residuals. Students compare strength of associations between different pairs of variables by interpreting correlation coefficients which they compute using technology. They gain experience in distinguishing between correlation and causality. Modeling is an intrinsic part of the high school statistics and probability standards and of this unit.