Curve-fitting Project - Linear Model
Instructions
For this assignment, collect data exhibiting a relatively lineartrend, find the line of best fit, plot the data and the line,interpret the slope, and use the linear equation to make aprediction. Also, find r2 (coefficient ofdetermination) and r (correlation coefficient). Discussyour findings. Your topic may be that is related to sports, yourwork, a hobby, or something you find interesting. If you choose,you may use the suggestions described below.
A Linear Model Example and Technology Tips areprovided in separate documents.
Tasks for Linear Regression Model (LR)
(LR-1) Describe your topic, provide your data, and cite yoursource. Collect at least 8 data points. Labelappropriately.  (Highly recommended:Post this information in the Linear Model Project discussion aswell as in your completed project. Include a briefinformative description in the title of your posting. Eachstudent must use different data.)
The idea with the discussion posting is two-fold: (1) To share yourinteresting project idea with your classmates, and (2) To give me achance to give you a brief thumbs-up or thumbs-down about yourproposed topic and data. Sometimes students get off on the wrongfoot or misunderstand the intent of the project, and your postingprovides an opportunity for some feedback. Remark: Studentsmay choose similar topics, but must have differentdata sets. For example, several students may be interestedin a particular Olympic sport, and that is fine, but they mustcollect different data, perhaps from different events or differentgender.
(LR-2) Plot the points (x, y) to obtain a scatterplot. Use anappropriate scale on the horizontal and vertical axes and be sureto label carefully. Visually judge whether the data points exhibita relatively linear trend. (If so, proceed. If not, try a differenttopic or data set.)
(LR-3) Find the line of best fit (regression line) and graph iton the scatterplot. State the equation of the line.
(LR-4) State the slope of the line of best fit. Carefullyinterpret the meaning of the slope in a sentence or two.
(LR-5) Find and state the value of r2, thecoefficient of determination, and r, the correlation coefficient.Discuss your findings in a few sentences. Is r positive ornegative? Why? Is a line a good curve to fit to this data? Why orwhy 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 fitto make an estimate or prediction. Show calculation work.
(LR-7) Write a brief narrative of a paragraph or two. Summarizeyour findings and be sure to mention any aspect of the linear modelproject (topic, data, scatterplot, line, r, or estimate, etc.) thatyou found particularly important or interesting.
You may submit all of your project in one document or acombination of documents, which may consist of word processingdocuments or spreadsheets or scanned handwritten work, provided itis clearly labeled where each task can be found. Be sure to includeyour name. Projects are graded on the basis of completeness,correctness, ease in locating all of the checklist items, andstrength of the narrative portions.
