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?
Tala plotted jump-rope practice against jumps in one minute for eight classmates, with a ruler line drawn. How many dots sit above the line?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): minutes of jump-rope practice a week, from 0 to 90, a tick every 10. Up (y): jumps in one minute, from 0 to 120, a tick every 10. Each dot is one classmate. The dots, left to right: (15, 53), (25, 54), (35, 68), (45, 77), (55, 79), (65, 94), (75, 100), (85, 104). A ruler line runs from (15, 50) to (85, 106). The line's height at each dot's x, as x | y: 15 | 50, 25 | 58, 35 | 66, 45 | 74, 55 | 82, 65 | 90, 75 | 98, 85 | 106. Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): minutes of jump-rope practice a week, from 0 to 90, a tick every 10. Up (y): jumps in one minute, from 0 to 120, a tick every 10. Each dot is one classmate. The dots, left to right: (15, 53), (25, 54), (35, 68), (45, 77), (55, 79), (65, 94), (75, 100), (85, 104). A ruler line runs from (15, 50) to (85, 106). The line's height at each dot's x, as x | y: 15 | 50, 25 | 58, 35 | 66, 45 | 74, 55 | 82, 65 | 90, 75 | 98, 85 | 106. Scatter plot on a dot grid. Each dot is one classmate. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 minutes of jump-rope practice a week jumps in one minute ruler line Zee timed how long each book chapter took and plotted pages against minutes. A ruler line is drawn through the dots. How many dots sit below the line?
Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): pages read, from 0 to 50, a tick every 10. Up (y): minutes spent reading, from 0 to 100, a tick every 10. Each dot is one book chapter. The dots, left to right: (12, 27), (16, 40), (20, 44), (24, 51), (28, 59), (32, 69), (36, 74), (40, 88). A ruler line runs from (12, 30) to (40, 86). The line's height at each dot's x, as x | y: 12 | 30, 16 | 38, 20 | 46, 24 | 54, 28 | 62, 32 | 70, 36 | 78, 40 | 86. Scatter plot on a dot grid. Across (x): pages read, from 0 to 50, a tick every 10. Up (y): minutes spent reading, from 0 to 100, a tick every 10. Each dot is one book chapter. The dots, left to right: (12, 27), (16, 40), (20, 44), (24, 51), (28, 59), (32, 69), (36, 74), (40, 88). A ruler line runs from (12, 30) to (40, 86). The line's height at each dot's x, as x | y: 12 | 30, 16 | 38, 20 | 46, 24 | 54, 28 | 62, 32 | 70, 36 | 78, 40 | 86. Scatter plot 0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 pages read minutes spent reading Each dot is one book chapter. Line height at each dot's x x y 12 30 16 38 20 46 24 54 28 62 32 70 36 78 40 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 up, so about as many dots sit above it as below it, raising the line.
- 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.
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 - 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.
- Move it down, 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 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, lifting the line.
- 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.
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 A, through (15, 36) and (50, 106)
- Line C, through (15, 38.5) and (50, 109.5)
- Line B, through (20, 52) and (25, 59)
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)

