# 12.7: Outliers

• Page ID
802
• In some data sets, there are values (observed data points) called outliers. Outliers are observed data points that are far from the least squares line. They have large "errors", where the "error" or residual is the vertical distance from the line to the point.

Outliers need to be examined closely. Sometimes, for some reason or another, they should not be included in the analysis of the data. It is possible that an outlier is a result of erroneous data. Other times, an outlier may hold valuable information about the population under study and should remain included in the data. The key is to examine carefully what causes a data point to be an outlier.

Besides outliers, a sample may contain one or a few points that are called influential points. Influential points are observed data points that are far from the other observed data points in the horizontal direction. These points may have a big effect on the slope of the regression line. To begin to identify an influential point, you can remove it from the data set and see if the slope of the regression line is changed significantly.

Computers and many calculators can be used to identify outliers from the data. Computer output for regression analysis will often identify both outliers and influential points so that you can examine them.

### Identifying Outliers

We could guess at outliers by looking at a graph of the scatterplot and best fit-line. However, we would like some guideline as to how far away a point needs to be in order to be considered an outlier. As a rough rule of thumb, we can flag any point that is located further than two standard deviations above or below the best-fit line as an outlier. The standard deviation used is the standard deviation of the residuals or errors.

As a rough rule of thumb, we can flag any point that is located further than two standard deviations above or below the best-fit line as an outlier.

We can do this visually in the scatter plot by drawing an extra pair of lines that are two standard deviations above and below the best-fit line. Any data points that are outside this extra pair of lines are flagged as potential outliers. Or we can do this numerically by calculating each residual and comparing it to twice the standard deviation. On the TI-83, 83+, or 84+, the graphical approach is easier. The graphical procedure is shown first, followed by the numerical calculations. You would generally need to use only one of these methods.

Example $$\PageIndex{1}$$

In the third exam/final exam example, you can determine if there is an outlier or not. If there is an outlier, as an exercise, delete it and fit the remaining data to a new line. For this example, the new line ought to fit the remaining data better. This means the SSE should be smaller and the correlation coefficient ought to be closer to 1 or -1.

Graphical Identification of Outliers

With the TI-83, 83+, 84+ graphing calculators, it is easy to identify the outliers graphically and visually. If we were to measure the vertical distance from any data point to the corresponding point on the line of best fit and that distance were equal to 2s or more, then we would consider the data point to be "too far" from the line of best fit. We need to find and graph the lines that are two standard deviations below and above the regression line. Any points that are outside these two lines are outliers. We will call these lines Y2 and Y3:

As we did with the equation of the regression line and the correlation coefficient, we will use technology to calculate this standard deviation for us. Using the LinRegTTest with this data, scroll down through the output screens to find $$s = 16.412$$.

Line $$Y2 = -173.5 + 4.83x - 2(16.4)$$ and line $$Y3 = -173.5 + 4.83x + 2(16.4)$$

where $$\hat{y} = -173.5 + 4.83x$$ is the line of best fit. $$Y2$$ and $$Y3$$ have the same slope as the line of best fit.

Graph the scatterplot with the best fit line in equation $$Y1$$, then enter the two extra lines as $$Y2$$ and $$Y3$$ in the "$$Y=$$" equation editor and press ZOOM 9. You will find that the only data point that is not between lines $$Y2$$ and $$Y3$$ is the point $$x = 65$$, $$y = 175$$. On the calculator screen it is just barely outside these lines. The outlier is the student who had a grade of 65 on the third exam and 175 on the final exam; this point is further than two standard deviations away from the best-fit line.

Sometimes a point is so close to the lines used to flag outliers on the graph that it is difficult to tell if the point is between or outside the lines. On a computer, enlarging the graph may help; on a small calculator screen, zooming in may make the graph clearer. Note that when the graph does not give a clear enough picture, you can use the numerical comparisons to identify outliers.

Figure 12.7.1.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{1}$$

Identify the potential outlier in the scatter plot. The standard deviation of the residuals or errors is approximately 8.6.

Figure 12.7.2.

The outlier appears to be at (6, 58). The expected $$y$$ value on the line for the point (6, 58) is approximately 82. Fifty-eight is 24 units from 82. Twenty-four is more than two standard deviations ($$2s = (2)(8.6) = 17.2$$). So 82 is more than two standard deviations from 58, which makes $$(6, 58)$$ a potential outlier.

### Numerical Identification of Outliers

In Table, the first two columns are the third-exam and final-exam data. The third column shows the predicted $$\hat{y}$$ values calculated from the line of best fit: $$\hat{y} = -173.5 + 4.83x$$. The residuals, or errors, have been calculated in the fourth column of the table: observed $$y$$ value−predicted $$y$$ value $$= y − \hat{y}$$.

s is the standard deviation of all the $$y - \hat{y} = \varepsilon$$ values where $$n = \text{the total number of data points}$$. If each residual is calculated and squared, and the results are added, we get the $$SSE$$. The standard deviation of the residuals is calculated from the $$SSE$$ as:

$s = \sqrt{\dfrac{SSE}{n-2}}$

We divide by ($$n – 2$$) because the regression model involves two estimates.

Rather than calculate the value of s ourselves, we can find s using the computer or calculator. For this example, the calculator function LinRegTTest found $$s = 16.4$$ as the standard deviation of the residuals 35; –17; 16; –6; –19; 9; 3; –1; –10; –9; –1 .

$$x$$ $$y$$ $$\hat{y}$$ $$y – \hat{y}$$
65 175 140 175 – 140 = 35
67 133 150 133 – 150= –17
71 185 169 185 – 169 = 16
71 163 169 163 – 169 = –6
66 126 145 126 – 145 = –19
75 198 189 198 – 189 = 9
67 153 150 153 – 150 = 3
70 163 164 163 – 164 = –1
71 159 169 159 – 169 = –10
69 151 160 151 – 160 = –9
69 159 160 159 – 160 = –1

We are looking for all data points for which the residual is greater than $$2s = 2(16.4) = 32.8$$ or less than $$-32.8$$. Compare these values to the residuals in column four of the table. The only such data point is the student who had a grade of 65 on the third exam and 175 on the final exam; the residual for this student is 35.

### How does the outlier affect the best fit line?

Numerically and graphically, we have identified the point (65, 175) as an outlier. We should re-examine the data for this point to see if there are any problems with the data. If there is an error, we should fix the error if possible, or delete the data. If the data is correct, we would leave it in the data set. For this problem, we will suppose that we examined the data and found that this outlier data was an error. Therefore we will continue on and delete the outlier, so that we can explore how it affects the results, as a learning experience.

Compute a new best-fit line and correlation coefficient using the ten remaining points

On the TI-83, TI-83+, TI-84+ calculators, delete the outlier from L1 and L2. Using the LinRegTTest, the new line of best fit and the correlation coefficient are:

$\hat{y} = -355.19 + 7.39x$ and $r = 0.9121$

The new line with $$r = 0.9121$$ is a stronger correlation than the original ($$r = 0.6631$$) because $$r = 0.9121$$ is closer to one. This means that the new line is a better fit to the ten remaining data values. The line can better predict the final exam score given the third exam score.

### Numerical Identification of Outliers: Calculating s and Finding Outliers Manually

If you do not have the function LinRegTTest, then you can calculate the outlier in the first example by doing the following.

First, square each $$|y – \hat{y}|$$

The squares are 352; 172; 162; 62; 192; 92; 32; 12; 102; 92; 12

Then, add (sum) all the $$|y – \hat{y}|$$ squared terms using the formula

$\sum^{11}_{i = 11} (|y_{i} - \hat{y}_{i}|)^{2} = \sum^{11}_{i - 1} \varepsilon^{2}_{i}$

Recall that

\begin{align} y_{i} - \hat{y}_{i} &= \varepsilon_{i} \nonumber \\ &= 35^{2} + 17^{2} + 16^{2} + 6^{2} + 19^{2} + 9^{2} + 3^{2} + 1^{2} + 10^{2} + 9^{2} + 1^{2} \nonumber \\ &= 2440 = SSE. \nonumber \end {align}

The result, $$SSE$$ is the Sum of Squared Errors.

Next, calculate s, the standard deviation of all the $$y - \hat{y} = \varepsilon$$ values where $$n = \text{the total number of data points}$$.

The calculation is

$s = \sqrt{\dfrac{SSE}{n-2}}.$

For the third exam/final exam problem:

$s = \sqrt{\dfrac{2440}{11 - 2}} = 16.47.$

Next, multiply $$s$$ by $$2$$:

$(2)(16.47) = 32.94$

$$32.94$$ is $$2$$ standard deviations away from the mean of the $$y - \hat{y}$$ values.

If we were to measure the vertical distance from any data point to the corresponding point on the line of best fit and that distance is at least $$2s$$, then we would consider the data point to be "too far" from the line of best fit. We call that point a potential outlier.

For the example, if any of the $$|y – \hat{y}|$$ values are at least 32.94, the corresponding ($$x, y$$) data point is a potential outlier.

For the third exam/final exam problem, all the $$|y – \hat{y}|$$'s are less than 31.29 except for the first one which is 35.

$$35 > 31.29$$ That is, $$|y – \hat{y}| \geq (2)(s)$$

The point which corresponds to $$|y – \hat{y}| = 35$$ is $$(65, 175)$$. Therefore, the data point $$(65,175)$$ is a potential outlier. For this example, we will delete it. (Remember, we do not always delete an outlier.)

When outliers are deleted, the researcher should either record that data was deleted, and why, or the researcher should provide results both with and without the deleted data. If data is erroneous and the correct values are known (e.g., student one actually scored a 70 instead of a 65), then this correction can be made to the data.

The next step is to compute a new best-fit line using the ten remaining points. The new line of best fit and the correlation coefficient are:

$\hat{y} = -355.19 + 7.39x$ and $r = 0.9121$

Example $$\PageIndex{2}$$

Using this new line of best fit (based on the remaining ten data points in the third exam/final exam example), what would a student who receives a 73 on the third exam expect to receive on the final exam? Is this the same as the prediction made using the original line?

Using the new line of best fit, $$\hat{y} = -355.19 + 7.39(73) = 184.28$$. A student who scored 73 points on the third exam would expect to earn 184 points on the final exam.

The original line predicted $$\hat{y} = -173.51 + 4.83(73) = 179.08$$ so the prediction using the new line with the outlier eliminated differs from the original prediction.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{2}$$

The data points for the graph from the third exam/final exam example are as follows: (1, 5), (2, 7), (2, 6), (3, 9), (4, 12), (4, 13), (5, 18), (6, 19), (7, 12), and (7, 21). Remove the outlier and recalculate the line of best fit. Find the value of ŷ when x = 10.

$$\hat{y} = 1.04 + 2.96x; 30.64$$

Example $$\PageIndex{3}$$: The Consumer Price Index

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for consumer goods and services. The CPI affects nearly all Americans because of the many ways it is used. One of its biggest uses is as a measure of inflation. By providing information about price changes in the Nation's economy to government, business, and labor, the CPI helps them to make economic decisions. The President, Congress, and the Federal Reserve Board use the CPI's trends to formulate monetary and fiscal policies. In the following table, $$x$$ is the year and $$y$$ is the CPI.

Data
$$x$$ $$y$$ $$x$$ $$y$$
1915 10.1 1969 36.7
1926 17.7 1975 49.3
1935 13.7 1979 72.6
1940 14.7 1980 82.4
1947 24.1 1986 109.6
1952 26.5 1991 130.7
1964 31.0 1999 166.6
1. Draw a scatterplot of the data.
2. Calculate the least squares line. Write the equation in the form ŷ = a + bx.
3. Draw the line on the scatterplot.
4. Find the correlation coefficient. Is it significant?
5. What is the average CPI for the year 1990?

1. See Figure.
2. $$\hat{y} = -3204 + 1.662x$$ is the equation of the line of best fit.
3. $$r = 0.8694$$
4. The number of data points is $$n = 14$$. Use the 95% Critical Values of the Sample Correlation Coefficient table at the end of Chapter 12. $$n - 2 = 12$$. The corresponding critical value is 0.532. Since 0.8694 > 0.532, r is significant.

$\hat{y} = -3204 + 1.662(1990) = 103.4 \text{CPI}$

5. Using the calculator LinRegTTest, we find that $$s = 25.4$$; graphing the lines $$Y2 = -3204 + 1.662X – 2(25.4)$$ and $$Y3 = -3204 + 1.662X + 2(25.4)$$ shows that no data values are outside those lines, identifying no outliers. (Note that the year 1999 was very close to the upper line, but still inside it.)

Figure 12.7.3.

In the example, notice the pattern of the points compared to the line. Although the correlation coefficient is significant, the pattern in the scatterplot indicates that a curve would be a more appropriate model to use than a line. In this example, a statistician should prefer to use other methods to fit a curve to this data, rather than model the data with the line we found. In addition to doing the calculations, it is always important to look at the scatterplot when deciding whether a linear model is appropriate.

If you are interested in seeing more years of data, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI website ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/cpi/cpiai.txt; our data is taken from the column entitled "Annual Avg." (third column from the right). For example you could add more current years of data. Try adding the more recent years: 2004: $$\text{CPI} = 188.9$$; 2008: $$\text{CPI} = 215.3$$; 2011: $$\text{CPI} = 224.9$$. See how it affects the model. (Check: $$\hat{y} = -4436 + 2.295x$$; $$r = 0.9018$$. Is $$r$$ significant? Is the fit better with the addition of the new points?)

Exercise $$\PageIndex{3}$$

The following table shows economic development measured in per capita income PCINC.

Year PCINC Year PCINC
1870 340 1920 1050
1880 499 1930 1170
1890 592 1940 1364
1900 757 1950 1836
1910 927 1960 2132
1. What are the independent and dependent variables?
2. Draw a scatter plot.
3. Use regression to find the line of best fit and the correlation coefficient.
4. Interpret the significance of the correlation coefficient.
5. Is there a linear relationship between the variables?
6. Find the coefficient of determination and interpret it.
7. What is the slope of the regression equation? What does it mean?
8. Use the line of best fit to estimate PCINC for 1900, for 2000.
9. Determine if there are any outliers.

a. The independent variable (x) is the year and the dependent variable (y) is the per capita income.

b.

Figure 12.7.4.

c. $$\hat{y} = 18.61x – 34574$$; $$r = 0.9732$$

d. At $$df = 8$$, the critical value is $$0.632$$. The $$r$$ value is significant because it is greater than the critical value.

e. There does appear to be a linear relationship between the variables.

f. The coefficient of determination is $$0.947$$, which means that 94.7% of the variation in PCINC is explained by the variation in the years.

g. and h. The slope of the regression equation is 18.61, and it means that per capita income increases by $18.61 for each passing year. $$\hat{y} = 785$$ when the year is 1900, and $$\hat{y} = 2,646$$ when the year is 2000. i. There do not appear to be any outliers. ### 95% Critical Values of the Sample Correlation Coefficient Table Degrees of Freedom: $$n – 2$$ Critical Values: (+ and –) 1 0.997 2 0.950 3 0.878 4 0.811 5 0.754 6 0.707 7 0.666 8 0.632 9 0.602 10 0.576 11 0.555 12 0.532 13 0.514 14 0.497 15 0.482 16 0.468 17 0.456 18 0.444 19 0.433 20 0.423 21 0.413 22 0.404 23 0.396 24 0.388 25 0.381 26 0.374 27 0.367 28 0.361 29 0.355 30 0.349 40 0.304 50 0.273 60 0.250 70 0.232 80 0.217 90 0.205 100 0.195 ### References 1. Data from the House Ways and Means Committee, the Health and Human Services Department. 2. Data from Microsoft Bookshelf. 3. Data from the United States Department of Labor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 4. Data from the Physician’s Handbook, 1990. 5. Data from the United States Department of Labor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics. ### Chapter Review To determine if a point is an outlier, do one of the following: 1. Input the following equations into the TI 83, 83+,84, 84+: $y_{1} = a + bx$ $y_{2} = (2s)a + bx$ $y_{3} = -(2s)a + bx$ where $$s$$ is the standard deviation of the residuals If any point is above $$y_{2}$$ or below $$y_{3}$$ then the point is considered to be an outlier. 2. Use the residuals and compare their absolute values to $$2s$$ where $$s$$ is the standard deviation of the residuals. If the absolute value of any residual is greater than or equal to $$2s$$, then the corresponding point is an outlier. Note: The calculator function LinRegTTest (STATS TESTS LinRegTTest) calculates $$s$$. Use the following information to answer the next four exercises. The scatter plot shows the relationship between hours spent studying and exam scores. The line shown is the calculated line of best fit. The correlation coefficient is $$0.69$$. Figure 12.7.5. Exercise 12.7.4 Do there appear to be any outliers? Answer Yes, there appears to be an outlier at $$(6, 58)$$. Exercise 12.7.5 A point is removed, and the line of best fit is recalculated. The new correlation coefficient is 0.98. Does the point appear to have been an outlier? Why? Exercise 12.7.6 What effect did the potential outlier have on the line of best fit? Answer The potential outlier flattened the slope of the line of best fit because it was below the data set. It made the line of best fit less accurate is a predictor for the data. Exercise 12.7.7 Are you more or less confident in the predictive ability of the new line of best fit? Exercise 12.7.8 The Sum of Squared Errors for a data set of 18 numbers is 49. What is the standard deviation? Answer $$s = 1.75$$ Exercise 12.7.9 The Standard Deviation for the Sum of Squared Errors for a data set is 9.8. What is the cutoff for the vertical distance that a point can be from the line of best fit to be considered an outlier? ### Bring It Together Exercise 12.7.10 The average number of people in a family that received welfare for various years is given in Table. Year Welfare family size 1969 4.0 1973 3.6 1975 3.2 1979 3.0 1983 3.0 1988 3.0 1991 2.9 1. Using “year” as the independent variable and “welfare family size” as the dependent variable, draw a scatter plot of the data. 2. Calculate the least-squares line. Put the equation in the form of: $$\hat{y} = a + bx$$ 3. Find the correlation coefficient. Is it significant? 4. Pick two years between 1969 and 1991 and find the estimated welfare family sizes. 5. Based on the data in Table, is there a linear relationship between the year and the average number of people in a welfare family? 6. Using the least-squares line, estimate the welfare family sizes for 1960 and 1995. Does the least-squares line give an accurate estimate for those years? Explain why or why not. 7. Are there any outliers in the data? 8. What is the estimated average welfare family size for 1986? Does the least squares line give an accurate estimate for that year? Explain why or why not. 9. What is the slope of the least squares (best-fit) line? Interpret the slope. Exercise 12.7.11 The percent of female wage and salary workers who are paid hourly rates is given in Table for the years 1979 to 1992. Year Percent of workers paid hourly rates 1979 61.2 1980 60.7 1981 61.3 1982 61.3 1983 61.8 1984 61.7 1985 61.8 1986 62.0 1987 62.7 1990 62.8 1992 62.9 1. Using “year” as the independent variable and “percent” as the dependent variable, draw a scatter plot of the data. 2. Does it appear from inspection that there is a relationship between the variables? Why or why not? 3. Calculate the least-squares line. Put the equation in the form of: $$\hat{y} = a + bx$$ 4. Find the correlation coefficient. Is it significant? 5. Find the estimated percents for 1991 and 1988. 6. Based on the data, is there a linear relationship between the year and the percent of female wage and salary earners who are paid hourly rates? 7. Are there any outliers in the data? 8. What is the estimated percent for the year 2050? Does the least-squares line give an accurate estimate for that year? Explain why or why not. 9. What is the slope of the least-squares (best-fit) line? Interpret the slope. Answer 1. Check student's solution. 2. yes 3. $$\hat{y} = -266.8863 + 0.1656x$$ 4. $$0.9448$$; Yes 5. $$62.8233; 62.3265$$ 6. yes 7. yes; $$(1987, 62.7)$$ 8. $$72.5937$$; no 9. $$slope = 0.1656$$. As the year increases by one, the percent of workers paid hourly rates tends to increase by 0.1656. Use the following information to answer the next two exercises. The cost of a leading liquid laundry detergent in different sizes is given in Table. Size (ounces) Cost ($) Cost per ounce
16 3.99
32 4.99
64 5.99
200 10.99

Exercise 12.7.12

1. Using “size” as the independent variable and “cost” as the dependent variable, draw a scatter plot.
2. Does it appear from inspection that there is a relationship between the variables? Why or why not?
3. Calculate the least-squares line. Put the equation in the form of: $$\hat{y} = a + bx$$
4. Find the correlation coefficient. Is it significant?
5. If the laundry detergent were sold in a 40-ounce size, find the estimated cost.
6. If the laundry detergent were sold in a 90-ounce size, find the estimated cost.
7. Does it appear that a line is the best way to fit the data? Why or why not?
8. Are there any outliers in the given data?
9. Is the least-squares line valid for predicting what a 300-ounce size of the laundry detergent would you cost? Why or why not?
10. What is the slope of the least-squares (best-fit) line? Interpret the slope.

Exercise 12.7.13

1. Complete Table for the cost per ounce of the different sizes.
2. Using “size” as the independent variable and “cost per ounce” as the dependent variable, draw a scatter plot of the data.
3. Does it appear from inspection that there is a relationship between the variables? Why or why not?
4. Calculate the least-squares line. Put the equation in the form of: $$\hat{y} = a + bx$$
5. Find the correlation coefficient. Is it significant?
6. If the laundry detergent were sold in a 40-ounce size, find the estimated cost per ounce.
7. If the laundry detergent were sold in a 90-ounce size, find the estimated cost per ounce.
8. Does it appear that a line is the best way to fit the data? Why or why not?
9. Are there any outliers in the the data?
10. Is the least-squares line valid for predicting what a 300-ounce size of the laundry detergent would cost per ounce? Why or why not?
11. What is the slope of the least-squares (best-fit) line? Interpret the slope.

1.
Size (ounces) Cost ($) cents/oz 16 3.99 24.94 32 4.99 15.59 64 5.99 9.36 200 10.99 5.50 2. Check student’s solution. 3. There is a linear relationship for the sizes 16 through 64, but that linear trend does not continue to the 200-oz size. 4. $$\hat{y} = 20.2368 - 0.0819x$$ 5. $$r = -0.8086$$ 6. 40-oz: 16.96 cents/oz 7. 90-oz: 12.87 cents/oz 8. The relationship is not linear; the least squares line is not appropriate. 9. no outliers 10. No, you would be extrapolating. The 300-oz size is outside the range of $$x$$. 11. $$slope = -0.08194$$; for each additional ounce in size, the cost per ounce decreases by 0.082 cents. Exercise 12.7.14 According to a flyer by a Prudential Insurance Company representative, the costs of approximate probate fees and taxes for selected net taxable estates are as follows: Net Taxable Estate ($) Approximate Probate Fees and Taxes ($) 600,000 30,000 750,000 92,500 1,000,000 203,000 1,500,000 438,000 2,000,000 688,000 2,500,000 1,037,000 3,000,000 1,350,000 1. Decide which variable should be the independent variable and which should be the dependent variable. 2. Draw a scatter plot of the data. 3. Does it appear from inspection that there is a relationship between the variables? Why or why not? 4. Calculate the least-squares line. Put the equation in the form of: $$\hat{y} = a + bx$$. 5. Find the correlation coefficient. Is it significant? 6. Find the estimated total cost for a next taxable estate of$1,000,000. Find the cost for $2,500,000. 7. Does it appear that a line is the best way to fit the data? Why or why not? 8. Are there any outliers in the data? 9. Based on these results, what would be the probate fees and taxes for an estate that does not have any assets? 10. What is the slope of the least-squares (best-fit) line? Interpret the slope. Exercise 12.7.15 The following are advertised sale prices of color televisions at Anderson’s. Size (inches) Sale Price ($)
9 147
20 197
27 297
31 447
35 1177
40 2177
60 2497
1. Decide which variable should be the independent variable and which should be the dependent variable.
2. Draw a scatter plot of the data.
3. Does it appear from inspection that there is a relationship between the variables? Why or why not?
4. Calculate the least-squares line. Put the equation in the form of: $$\hat{y} = a + bx$$.
5. Find the correlation coefficient. Is it significant?
6. Find the estimated sale price for a 32 inch television. Find the cost for a 50 inch television.
7. Does it appear that a line is the best way to fit the data? Why or why not?
8. Are there any outliers in the data?
9. What is the slope of the least-squares (best-fit) line? Interpret the slope.

1. Size is $$x$$, the independent variable, price is $$y$$, the dependent variable.
2. Check student’s solution.
3. The relationship does not appear to be linear.
4. $$\hat{y} = -745.252 + 54.75569x$$
5. $$r = 0.8944$$, yes it is significant
6. 32-inch: $1006.93, 50-inch:$1992.53
7. No, the relationship does not appear to be linear. However, $$r$$ is significant.
8. yes, the 60-inch TV
9. For each additional inch, the price increases by \$54.76

Exercise 12.7.16

Table shows the average heights for American boys in 1990.

Age (years) Height (cm)
birth 50.8
2 83.8
3 91.4
5 106.6
7 119.3
10 137.1
14 157.5
1. Decide which variable should be the independent variable and which should be the dependent variable.
2. Draw a scatter plot of the data.
3. Does it appear from inspection that there is a relationship between the variables? Why or why not?
4. Calculate the least-squares line. Put the equation in the form of: $$\hat{y} = a + bx$$.
5. Find the correlation coefficient. Is it significant?
6. Find the estimated average height for a one-year-old. Find the estimated average height for an eleven-year-old.
7. Does it appear that a line is the best way to fit the data? Why or why not?
8. Are there any outliers in the data?
9. Use the least squares line to estimate the average height for a sixty-two-year-old man. Do you think that your answer is reasonable? Why or why not?
10. What is the slope of the least-squares (best-fit) line? Interpret the slope.

Exercise 12.7.17

State # letters in name Year entered the Union Ranks for entering the Union Area (square miles)
Alabama 7 1819 22 52,423
Hawaii 6 1959 50 10,932
Iowa 4 1846 29 56,276
Maryland 8 1788 7 12,407
Missouri 8 1821 24 69,709
New Jersey 9 1787 3 8,722
Ohio 4 1803 17 44,828
South Carolina 13 1788 8 32,008
Utah 4 1896 45 84,904
Wisconsin 9 1848 30 65,499

We are interested in whether there is a relationship between the ranking of a state and the area of the state.

1. What are the independent and dependent variables?
2. What do you think the scatter plot will look like? Make a scatter plot of the data.
3. Does it appear from inspection that there is a relationship between the variables? Why or why not?
4. Calculate the least-squares line. Put the equation in the form of: $$\hat{y} = a + bx$$.
5. Find the correlation coefficient. What does it imply about the significance of the relationship?
6. Find the estimated areas for Alabama and for Colorado. Are they close to the actual areas?
7. Use the two points in part f to plot the least-squares line on your graph from part b.
8. Does it appear that a line is the best way to fit the data? Why or why not?
9. Are there any outliers?
10. Use the least squares line to estimate the area of a new state that enters the Union. Can the least-squares line be used to predict it? Why or why not?
11. Delete “Hawaii” and substitute “Alaska” for it. Alaska is the forty-ninth, state with an area of 656,424 square miles.
12. Calculate the new least-squares line.
13. Find the estimated area for Alabama. Is it closer to the actual area with this new least-squares line or with the previous one that included Hawaii? Why do you think that’s the case?
14. Do you think that, in general, newer states are larger than the original states?

1. Let rank be the independent variable and area be the dependent variable.
2. Check student’s solution.
3. There appears to be a linear relationship, with one outlier.
4. $$\hat{y} \text{ (area) } = 24177.06 + 1010.478x$$
5. $$r = 0.50047$$, $$r$$ is not significant so there is no relationship between the variables.
7. Alabama estimate is closer than Colorado estimate.
8. If the outlier is removed, there is a linear relationship.
9. There is one outlier (Hawaii).
10. rank 51: 75711.4; no
11.  Alabama 7 1819 22 52,423 Colorado 8 1876 38 104,100 Alaska 6 1959 51 656,424 Iowa 4 1846 29 56,276 Maryland 8 1788 7 12,407 Missouri 8 1821 24 69,709 New Jersey 9 1787 3 8,722 Ohio 4 1803 17 44,828 South Carolina 13 1788 8 32,008 Utah 4 1896 45 84,904 Wisconsin 9 1848 30 65,499
12. $$\hat{y} = -87065.3 + 7828.532x$$
13. Alabama: 85,162.404; the prior estimate was closer. Alaska is an outlier.
14. yes, with the exception of Hawaii

### Glossary

Outlier
an observation that does not fit the rest of the data