Linear Project

Instructions

For this assignment, collect data exhibiting a relatively linear trend, find the line of best fit, plot the data and the line, interpret the slope, and use the linear equation to make a prediction. Also, find r2 (coefficient of determination) and r (correlation coefficient). Discuss your findings. Your topic may be that is related to sports, your work, a hobby, or something you find interesting. If you choose, you may use the suggestions described below.

A Linear Model Example and Technology Tips are provided in separate documents.

Tasks for Linear Regression Model (LR)

(LR-1) Describe your topic, provide your data, and cite your source. Collect at least 8 data points. Label appropriately. (Highly recommended: Post this information in the Linear Model Project discussion as well as in your completed project. Include a brief informative description in the title of your posting. Each student must use different data.)

The idea with the discussion posting is two-fold: (1) To share your interesting project idea with your classmates, and (2) To give me a chance to give you a brief thumbs-up or thumbs-down about your proposed topic and data. Sometimes students get off on the wrong foot or misunderstand the intent of the project, and your posting provides an opportunity for some feedback. Remark: Students may choose similar topics, but must have different data sets. For example, several students may be interested in a particular Olympic sport, and that is fine, but they must collect different data, perhaps from different events or different gender.

(LR-2) Plot the points (x, y) to obtain a scatterplot. Use an appropriate scale on the horizontal and vertical axes and be sure to label carefully. Visually judge whether the data points exhibit a relatively linear trend. (If so, proceed. If not, try a different topic or data set.)

(LR-3) Find the line of best fit (regression line) and graph it on the scatterplot. State the equation of the line.

(LR-4) State the slope of the line of best fit. Carefully interpret the meaning of the slope in a sentence or two.

(LR-5) Find and state the value of r2, the coefficient of determination, and r, the correlation coefficient. Discuss your findings in a few sentences. Is r positive or negative? Why? Is a line a good curve to fit to this data? Why or why not? Is the linear relationship very strong, moderately strong, weak, or nonexistent?

(LR-6) Choose a value of interest and use the line of best fit to make an estimate or prediction. Show calculation work.

(LR-7) Write a brief narrative of a paragraph or two. Summarize your findings and be sure to mention any aspect of the linear model project (topic, data, scatterplot, line, r, or estimate, etc.) that you found particularly important or interesting.

You may submit all of your project in one document or a combination of documents, which may consist of word processing documents or spreadsheets or scanned handwritten work, provided it is clearly labeled where each task can be found. Be sure to include your name. Projects are graded on the basis of completeness, correctness, ease in locating all of the checklist items, and strength of the narrative portions.
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(Sample) Curve-Fitting Project – Linear Model: Men’s 400 Meter Dash Submitted by Suzanne Sands
(LR-1) Purpose: To analyze the winning times for the Olympic Men’s 400 Meter Dash using a linear model
Data: The winning times were retrieved from http://www.databaseolympics.com/sport/sportevent.htm?sp=ATH&enum=130
The winning times were gathered for the most recent 16 Summer Olympics, post-WWII. (More data was available, back to 1896.)
DATA:
Summer Olympics:
Men’s 400 Meter Dash
Winning Times
Year
Time
(seconds)
1948 46.20
1952 45.90
1956 46.70
1960 44.90
1964 45.10
1968 43.80
1972 44.66
1976 44.26
1980 44.60
1984 44.27
1988 43.87
1992 43.50
1996 43.49
2000 43.84
2004 44.00
2008 43.75
(LR-2) SCATTERPLOT:
As one would expect, the winning times generally show a downward trend, as stronger competition and training
methods result in faster speeds. The trend is somewhat linear.
43.00
43.50
44.00
44.50
45.00
45.50
46.00
46.50
47.00
1944 1952 1960 1968 1976 1984 1992 2000 2008
Time (seconds)
Year
Summer Olympics: Men’s 400 Meter Dash Winning Times