Key Concepts in Scatter Graphs
- Plotting scatter graphs
- Types of correlation (positive, negative, none)
- Lines of best fit
- Using lines of best fit to make predictions
- Interpolation and extrapolation
Exam Tips for Scatter Graphs
- 💡Line of best fit passes through the mean point (mean x, mean y)
- 💡Extrapolation is unreliable — only interpolate
- 💡Correlation does not imply causation
Exam Board Coverage
Scatter Graphs appears on all major GCSE Maths exam boards at both Foundation and Higher tier.
AQA
Edexcel
OCR
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between correlation and causation?
Correlation means two variables tend to change together. Causation means one variable directly causes the other. Correlation does not prove causation.
What is interpolation and extrapolation?
Interpolation: using the line of best fit to predict values within the data range. Extrapolation: predicting beyond the data range — less reliable.