AQA S1 2008 January — Question 2

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleS1 (Statistics 1)
Year2008
SessionJanuary
TopicBivariate data
TypeCalculate r from summary statistics

2 The head and body length, \(x\) millimetres, and tail length, \(y\) millimetres, of each of a sample of 20 adult dormice were measured. The following statistics are derived from the results. $$S _ { x x } = 1280.55 \quad S _ { y y } = 281.8 \quad S _ { x y } = 416.3$$
  1. Calculate the value of the product moment correlation coefficient between \(x\) and \(y\).
  2. Interpret your value in the context of this question.
  3. Write down the value of the product moment correlation coefficient if the measurements had been recorded in centimetres.
  4. Give a reason why it is not generally advisable to calculate the value of the product moment correlation coefficient without first viewing a scatter diagram of the data. Illustrate your answer with a sketch.