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Grade 9 · Math · Algebra 1

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

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

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The correlation coefficient r, and correlation is not causation

Grade 9 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. Jun plotted hot cocoa sales against the temperature. The calculator gives r = -0.96. Which sentence describes the association?

    • Weak and negative: the number of mugs sold tends to go down a little, with lots of scatter.
    • Strong and negative: as the temperature goes up, the number of mugs sold tends to go down.
    • Weak and positive: the number of mugs sold tends to go up a little, with lots of scatter.
    • Strong and positive: as the temperature goes up, the number of mugs sold tends to go up.
  2. Kira plotted paper airplane flights against wing width. The calculator gives r = 0.22. Which sentence describes the association?

    • Strong and negative: as the wing width goes up, the flight distance tends to go down.
    • Weak and positive: the flight distance tends to go up a little, with lots of scatter.
    • Weak and negative: the flight distance tends to go down a little, with lots of scatter.
    • Strong and positive: as the wing width goes up, the flight distance tends to go up.
  3. Luz plotted how far a toy car rolls against the ramp height. The calculator gives r = 0.96. Which sentence describes the association?

    • Strong and positive: as the ramp height goes up, the distance rolled tends to go up.
    • Weak and positive: the distance rolled tends to go up a little, with lots of scatter.
    • Weak and negative: the distance rolled tends to go down a little, with lots of scatter.
    • Strong and negative: as the ramp height goes up, the distance rolled tends to go down.
  4. Noah plotted lemonade sales against the temperature. The calculator's line has slope 2. Which value is r for these dots?

    • -0.97
    • 0.24
    • 0.97
    • 2
  5. Ren plotted kite heights against wind speed. The calculator's line has slope 1.9. Which value is r for these dots?

    • 1.9
    • 0.93
    • -0.26
    • 0.26
  6. Tala plotted long-jump distances against minutes of warm-up. The calculator's line has slope 2. Which value is r for these dots?

    • 2
    • -0.31
    • 0.31
    • 0.93
  7. Zee made two plots: Set A, kids outside by snow depth, has r = -0.97. Set B, paper airplane flights by wing width, has r = 0.6. Which set shows the stronger linear association?

    • Set B, because a positive r is stronger.
    • They are equally strong.
    • Set B, because 0.6 is greater than -0.97, so it is the stronger set.
    • Set A, because -0.97 is closer to -1 than 0.6 is to 1.
  8. Ari made two plots: Set A, kite heights by wind speed, has r = 0.58. Set B, cocoa sales by temperature, has r = -0.97. Which set shows the stronger linear association?

    • Set A, because a positive r is stronger.
    • They are equally strong.
    • Set B, because -0.97 is closer to -1 than 0.58 is to 1.
    • Set A, because 0.58 is greater than -0.97.
  9. Bo made two plots: Set A, sprouts by seeds planted, has r = 0.97. Set B, kite heights by wind speed, has r = 0.58. Which set shows the stronger linear association?

    • They are equally strong.
    • Set A, because 0.97 is closer to 1 than 0.58.
    • Set B, because its line is steeper, so the link is tighter.
  10. Esme made two plots: Set A, paper airplane flights by wing width, has r = 0.97. Set B, kite heights by wind speed, has r = 0.53. Which set shows the stronger linear association?

    • Set A, because 0.97 is closer to 1 than 0.53.
    • They are equally strong.
    • Set B, because its line is steeper.
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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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