Draw a line that fits the dots
Grade 8 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
Ren's class measured eight sunflowers and drew a ruler line through the dots. One sunflower leans toward the window. How many dots sit above the line?
Ari timed eight bike rides of different lengths. A ruler line is drawn through the dots, and one ride had a strong headwind. How many dots sit below the line?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): ride lengths in kilometers, from 0 to 30, a tick every 5. Up (y): ride times in minutes, from 0 to 100, a tick every 10. Each dot is one bike ride. The dots, left to right: (10, 46), (12, 53), (14, 54), (16, 66), (18, 71), (20, 76), (22, 83), (24, 84). A ruler line runs from (10, 44) to (24, 86). The line's height at each dot's x, as x | y: 10 | 44, 12 | 50, 14 | 56, 16 | 62, 18 | 68, 20 | 74, 22 | 80, 24 | 86. Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): ride lengths in kilometers, from 0 to 30, a tick every 5. Up (y): ride times in minutes, from 0 to 100, a tick every 10. Each dot is one bike ride. The dots, left to right: (10, 46), (12, 53), (14, 54), (16, 66), (18, 71), (20, 76), (22, 83), (24, 84). A ruler line runs from (10, 44) to (24, 86). The line's height at each dot's x, as x | y: 10 | 44, 12 | 50, 14 | 56, 16 | 62, 18 | 68, 20 | 74, 22 | 80, 24 | 86. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 ride lengths in kilometers ride times in minutes ruler line Each dot is one bike ride. The line's height at each dot's x, as x | y: 10 | 44, 12 | 50, 14 | 56, 16 | 62, 18 | 68, 20 | 74, 22 | 80, 24 | 86. Bo squeezed fresh lemons for the school fair's lemonade and plotted noon temperatures against cups poured. A ruler line goes through two dots. How should the line move to fit the dots better?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): temperatures in °F at noon, from 50 to 100, a tick every 5. Up (y): cups of lemonade poured at the school fair, from 0 to 80, a tick every 10. Each dot is one fair day. The dots, left to right: (60, 23), (65, 26), (70, 38), (75, 39), (80, 48), (85, 49), (90, 63), (95, 64). A ruler line runs from (70, 38) to (90, 63), through those two dots. Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): temperatures in °F at noon, from 50 to 100, a tick every 5. Up (y): cups of lemonade poured at the school fair, from 0 to 80, a tick every 10. Each dot is one fair day. The dots, left to right: (60, 23), (65, 26), (70, 38), (75, 39), (80, 48), (85, 49), (90, 63), (95, 64). A ruler line runs from (70, 38) to (90, 63), through those two dots. 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 temperatures in degF at noon cups of lemonade poured at the school fair ruler line - Move it down, so about as many dots sit above it as below it.
- Leave it where it is, because it passes through two dots.
- Move it up, so about as many dots sit above it as below it, raising the line.
Esme's ruler line goes through two dots on the bean plants' plot. How should the line move to fit the dots better?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): weeks since planting, from 0 to 20, a tick every 2. Up (y): plant heights in centimeters, from 0 to 60, a tick every 5. Each dot is one bean plant. The dots, left to right: (4, 12), (6, 21), (8, 21), (10, 32), (12, 35), (14, 38), (16, 44), (18, 51). A ruler line runs from (4, 12) to (8, 21), through those two dots. Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): weeks since planting, from 0 to 20, a tick every 2. Up (y): plant heights in centimeters, from 0 to 60, a tick every 5. Each dot is one bean plant. The dots, left to right: (4, 12), (6, 21), (8, 21), (10, 32), (12, 35), (14, 38), (16, 44), (18, 51). A ruler line runs from (4, 12) to (8, 21), through those two dots. Scatter plot: each dot is one bean plant 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 weeks since planting plant heights in centimeters ruler line - Move it down, so about as many dots sit above it as below it.
- Leave it where it is, because it passes through two dots.
- Move it up, so about as many dots sit above it as below it.
At the walk-a-thon, Jun laid a ruler line through two dots. One walker wore a dinosaur costume. How should the line move to fit the dots better?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): laps walked, from 0 to 20, a tick every 2. Up (y): minutes taken, from 0 to 80, a tick every 5. Each dot is one walker. The dots, left to right: (4, 19), (6, 24), (8, 36), (10, 39), (12, 48), (14, 51), (16, 64), (18, 68). A ruler line runs from (8, 36) to (16, 64), through those two dots. Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): laps walked, from 0 to 20, a tick every 2. Up (y): minutes taken, from 0 to 80, a tick every 5. Each dot is one walker. The dots, left to right: (4, 19), (6, 24), (8, 36), (10, 39), (12, 48), (14, 51), (16, 64), (18, 68). A ruler line runs from (8, 36) to (16, 64), through those two dots. 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 laps walked minutes taken ruler line - Move it up, so about as many dots sit above it as below it, lifting the line.
- Move it down, so about as many dots sit above it as below it.
- Leave it where it is, because it passes through two dots.
Kira drew a ruler line through two of the kite dots. How should the line move to fit the dots better?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): kite string lengths in meters, from 0 to 100, a tick every 10. Up (y): kite heights in meters, from 0 to 80, a tick every 10. Each dot is one kite. The dots, left to right: (20, 12), (30, 25), (40, 27), (50, 36), (60, 45), (70, 46), (80, 58), (90, 63). A ruler line runs from (20, 12) to (70, 46), through those two dots. Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): kite string lengths in meters, from 0 to 100, a tick every 10. Up (y): kite heights in meters, from 0 to 80, a tick every 10. Each dot is one kite. The dots, left to right: (20, 12), (30, 25), (40, 27), (50, 36), (60, 45), (70, 46), (80, 58), (90, 63). A ruler line runs from (20, 12) to (70, 46), through those two dots. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 kite string lengths in meters kite heights in meters - Leave it where it is, because it passes through two dots.
- Move it down, so about as many dots sit above it as below it.
- Move it up, so about as many dots sit above it as below it.
Luz's music club plotted weekly piano practice against songs played without a mistake. Three ruler lines are drawn. Which line fits the dots best?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): minutes of piano practice a week, from 0 to 100, a tick every 10. Up (y): songs played without a mistake, from 0 to 40, a tick every 5. Each dot is one club member. The dots, left to right: (20, 13), (30, 13), (40, 19), (50, 20), (60, 28), (70, 29), (80, 35), (90, 41). Line A runs through (20, 10.5) and (90, 39.5). Line B runs through (20, 13) and (90, 41). Line C runs through (30, 13) and (40, 19). Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): minutes of piano practice a week, from 0 to 100, a tick every 10. Up (y): songs played without a mistake, from 0 to 40, a tick every 5. Each dot is one club member. The dots, left to right: (20, 13), (30, 13), (40, 19), (50, 20), (60, 28), (70, 29), (80, 35), (90, 41). Line A runs through (20, 10.5) and (90, 39.5). Line B runs through (20, 13) and (90, 41). Line C runs through (30, 13) and (40, 19). 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 minutes of piano practice a week songs played without a mistake Line A Line B Line C - Line A, through (20, 10.5) and (90, 39.5)
- Line B, through (20, 13) and (90, 41), joining the end dots
- Line C, through (30, 13) and (40, 19)
Milo measured eight seedlings on different days and drew three ruler lines on the plot. One seedling has a ladybug guest. Which line fits the dots best?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): days since planting, from 0 to 30, a tick every 2. Up (y): seedling heights in millimeters, from 0 to 80, a tick every 5. Each dot is one seedling. The dots, left to right: (6, 26), (8, 26), (10, 35), (12, 39), (14, 48), (16, 50), (18, 59), (20, 68). Line A runs through (8, 26) and (10, 35). Line B runs through (6, 22.5) and (20, 65.5). Line C runs through (6, 26) and (20, 68). Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): days since planting, from 0 to 30, a tick every 2. Up (y): seedling heights in millimeters, from 0 to 80, a tick every 5. Each dot is one seedling. The dots, left to right: (6, 26), (8, 26), (10, 35), (12, 39), (14, 48), (16, 50), (18, 59), (20, 68). Line A runs through (8, 26) and (10, 35). Line B runs through (6, 22.5) and (20, 65.5). Line C runs through (6, 26) and (20, 68). 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 days since planting seedling heights in millimeters Line A Line B Line C - Line A, through (8, 26) and (10, 35)
- Line B, through (6, 22.5) and (20, 65.5)
- Line C, through (6, 26) and (20, 68)
Noah's class went apple picking, and each picker filled a basket. They plotted minutes of picking against apples picked. Which of the three ruler lines fits the dots best?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): minutes of apple picking, from 0 to 60, a tick every 5. Up (y): apples picked, from 0 to 120, a tick every 10. Each dot is one picker. The dots, left to right: (15, 36), (20, 52), (25, 59), (30, 71), (35, 78), (40, 91), (45, 99), (50, 106). Line A runs through (15, 36) and (50, 106). Line B runs through (20, 52) and (25, 59). Line C runs through (15, 38.5) and (50, 109.5). Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): minutes of apple picking, from 0 to 60, a tick every 5. Up (y): apples picked, from 0 to 120, a tick every 10. Each dot is one picker. The dots, left to right: (15, 36), (20, 52), (25, 59), (30, 71), (35, 78), (40, 91), (45, 99), (50, 106). Line A runs through (15, 36) and (50, 106). Line B runs through (20, 52) and (25, 59). Line C runs through (15, 38.5) and (50, 109.5). 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 minutes of apple picking apples picked Line A Line B Line C - Line B, through (20, 52) and (25, 59)
- Line A, through (15, 36) and (50, 106)
- Line C, through (15, 38.5) and (50, 109.5)
Pia folded eight paper planes with different wing widths and plotted how far each flew. Which of the three ruler lines fits the dots best?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): wing widths in centimeters, from 0 to 30, a tick every 2. Up (y): flight distances in meters, from 0 to 20, a tick every 2. Each dot is one paper plane. The dots, left to right: (8, 4), (10, 8), (12, 8), (14, 8), (16, 11), (18, 10), (20, 13), (22, 11). Line A runs through (8, 5.5) and (22, 12.5). Line B runs through (12, 8) and (16, 11). Line C runs through (8, 4) and (22, 11). Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): wing widths in centimeters, from 0 to 30, a tick every 2. Up (y): flight distances in meters, from 0 to 20, a tick every 2. Each dot is one paper plane. The dots, left to right: (8, 4), (10, 8), (12, 8), (14, 8), (16, 11), (18, 10), (20, 13), (22, 11). Line A runs through (8, 5.5) and (22, 12.5). Line B runs through (12, 8) and (16, 11). Line C runs through (8, 4) and (22, 11). 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 wing widths in centimeters flight distances in meters A B C - Line B, through (12, 8) and (16, 11)
- Line A, through (8, 5.5) and (22, 12.5)
- Line C, through (8, 4) and (22, 11)