Question 49

A scatterplot is the appropriate graphical display for comparing two quantitative variables.

A scatterplot visually represents the relationship between two quantitative variables, allowing for the observation of patterns, trends, and correlations.

A) Scatterplot

This option is correct because a scatterplot is specifically designed to show the relationship between two quantitative variables by plotting individual data points on a Cartesian plane. It enables viewers to analyze how one variable may affect another, making it the most suitable choice for this context.

B) Two-way table

A two-way table is typically used for categorical data to display the frequency distribution of variables. It is not suitable for illustrating relationships between two quantitative variables, as it does not provide a visual representation of data points in a continuous format.

C) Decision table

A decision table is used primarily for decision-making processes and does not serve to compare or visualize quantitative data. It lacks the capability to display relationships between two numerical variables, making it inappropriate for this type of analysis.

D) Side-by-side box plot

While a side-by-side box plot can compare distributions of a quantitative variable across different categories, it does not effectively illustrate the relationship between two quantitative variables. It focuses more on the summary statistics of the data rather than the correlation or interaction between the variables.

Conclusion

The scatterplot is definitively the best choice for displaying the relationship between two quantitative variables, as it effectively illustrates how one variable interacts with another. In contrast, the other options either focus on categorical data or do not provide the necessary visual representation to analyze the relationship between two numerical datasets.