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Grade 9 · Math · Algebra 1

9th grade The correlation coefficient r, and correlation is not causation worksheet

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The correlation coefficient r, and correlation is not causation

Grade 9 Math Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. Jun plotted lemonade sales against the temperature; r = 0.67. One day the stand ran out of cups early. If the dot (83, 18) is removed, what happens to r?

    • r moves closer to 0, because there are fewer dots.
    • r becomes negative.
    • r moves closer to 1, because the other dots hug a line.
    • r stays about the same, because one dot is too few to matter.
  2. Kira plotted bus ride times against miles from school; r = 0.75. One day the bus took a long detour. If the dot (5, 58) is removed, what happens to r?

    • r moves closer to 0, because there are fewer dots.
    • r moves closer to 1, because the other dots hug a line.
    • r becomes negative.
    • r stays about the same, because one dot is too few to matter.
  3. Luz plotted sprouted seeds against seeds planted; r = 0.97. One big tray held 60 seeds. If the dot (60, 49) is removed, what happens to r?

    • r stays about the same, because one dot is too few to matter.
    • r moves closer to 0, because the other dots are scattered.
    • r moves closer to 1, because removing a far dot always helps.
    • r becomes exactly 1.
  4. Noah plotted the number of swimmers at the pool against the hour of the day. The calculator gives r = 0.01. Which statement is true?

    • There is no relationship between the two at all.
    • The fit line is nearly flat, so the number of swimmers barely changes.
    • The dots follow a clear curve; r near 0 only means no straight-line link.
    • There is a strong positive straight-line link.
  5. Pia plotted coats worn to class against the month. The calculator gives r = 0.04. Which statement is true?

    • There is a strong positive straight-line link.
    • There is no relationship between the two at all.
    • The fit line is nearly flat, so the number of coats barely changes.
    • The dots follow a clear curve; r near 0 only means no straight-line link.
  6. Tala plotted the outdoor temperature against the hour of a summer day. The calculator gives r = -0.01. Which statement is true?

    • The fit line is nearly flat, so the temperature barely changes.
    • The dots follow a clear curve; r near 0 only means no straight-line link.
    • There is a strong positive straight-line link.
    • There is no relationship between the two at all.
  7. Zee plotted hot cocoa sales against the temperature, and the calculator gives r = -0.97. Which claim do the data support?

    • r = -0.97 is so close to -1 that it proves the temperature causes the change.
    • Each extra degree lowers the number of mugs sold by 0.97.
    • The link is strong and negative, but r alone cannot prove a cause.
    • As the temperature goes up, the number of mugs sold tends to go up.
  8. Ari plotted mistakes in a song against daily practice time, and the calculator gives r = -0.97. Which claim do the data support?

    • r = -0.97 is so close to -1 that it proves the practice time causes the change.
    • Each extra minute lowers the number of mistakes by 0.97.
    • As the practice time goes up, the number of mistakes tends to go up.
    • The link is strong and negative, but r alone cannot prove a cause.
  9. Bo plotted how far a toy car rolls against the ramp height, and the calculator gives r = 0.97. Which claim do the data support?

    • The link is strong and positive, but r alone cannot prove a cause.
    • As the ramp height goes up, the distance rolled tends to go down.
    • Each extra centimeter raises the distance rolled by 0.97.
    • r = 0.97 is so close to 1 that it proves the ramp height causes the change.
  10. Esme plotted bus ride times against miles from school, and the calculator gives r = 0.97. Which claim do the data support?

    • Each extra mile raises the bus time by 0.97.
    • As the distance from school goes up, the bus time tends to go down.
    • r = 0.97 is so close to 1 that it proves the distance from school causes the change.
    • The link is strong and positive, but r alone cannot prove a cause.
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9th grade The correlation coefficient r, and correlation is not causation worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

The correlation coefficient r, and correlation is not causation. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can say whether an r value shows a strong or weak, positive or negative straight-line link.
  • I can tell r from the slope, and say which of two plots has the stronger link.
  • I can explain a link with a third thing, and I never say a strong r proves a cause.

Standard: S-ID.C.8, S-ID.C.9

Words to know

correlation coefficient r: A number from −1 to 1 saying how tightly dots hug a line.

strong / weak: r close to 1 or −1 / r close to 0.

positive / negative: Dots rise / fall from left to right.

outlier: A dot far from the pattern of the others.

lurking variable: A third thing that pushes both quantities up or down.

causation: One thing really makes the other happen.

Common mistakes

Your child judged how tightly the dots fit but missed which way they go. Trace the dots left to right together: up means a positive r, down means a negative r.

Your child mixed up strength and direction: a negative r was read as weak, or a positive r as strong. Strength is how close r is to 1 or -1; the sign is only the direction.

Your child got the direction right but misjudged how tightly the dots fit. Hold a ruler along the dots: hugging it means r near 1 or -1; scattered means near 0.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with the correlation coefficient r, and correlation is not causation?

Your child judged how tightly the dots fit but missed which way they go. Trace the dots left to right together: up means a positive r, down means a negative r.

Are these 9th grade math worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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