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Algebra 1

3.5.4 Interpreting the Correlation Coefficient

Algebra 13.5.4 Interpreting the Correlation Coefficient

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Doctors suspect a strain of bacteria found in the hospital is becoming resistant to antibiotics. They put various concentrations of antibiotic in petri dishes and add some of the bacteria to allow it to grow. The bacteria grow into groups in the dish called colonies. After some time, the doctors return to the petri dishes and count the number of colonies for the different amounts of antibiotic.

The data is plotted with a best fit line. The correlation coefficient was r=0.83r=0.83.

1. What does the sign of the correlation coefficient tell you about the relationship between the number of bacteria colonies and the concentration of antibiotic in the dish?

2. What does the numerical value of the correlation coefficient tell you about the relationship between the number of bacteria colonies and the concentration of antibiotic in the dish?

3. In a follow-up study, a group of scientists collect data that was fit by a linear model with a correlation coefficient of r=0.94r=0.94. Which study suggests a stronger relationship between the number of bacteria colonies and the concentration of antibiotics: the doctors' study or the scientists' study? Be prepared to show your reasoning.

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