Question

4* which type of correlation would you expect between a city’s monthly temperature averages and precipitation totals? why? a -1; strong negative correlation between the monthly temperature averages and the amount of precipitation b 0; relatively no correlation. c 98; strong positive correlation between the monthly temperature and the amount of precipitation d 1; strong positive correlation between the monthly temperature averages and the amount of precipitation

Explanation:

To determine the correlation between a city’s monthly temperature averages and precipitation totals, we analyze the relationship:

• A correlation of -1 (option A) implies a perfect negative linear relationship, but temperature and precipitation don’t always have such a strict inverse. For example, some regions have high temperatures with monsoonal rains (positive correlation in parts), while others have cold, dry winters and warm, wet summers (negative in parts). However, globally, the relationship isn’t consistent enough to be a perfect -1 or 1.
• A correlation of 0 (option B) means no linear relationship. Since temperature and precipitation can vary independently (e.g., a city might have warm, dry months and cool, wet months, or warm, wet and cool, dry, or even warm, dry and warm, wet), there’s no consistent positive or negative linear trend across all cities/months.
• Correlation values like 98 (option C) or 1 (option D) are invalid (correlation coefficients range from -1 to 1) and imply a perfect positive relationship, which is not universal (e.g., deserts have high temps and low precipitation, contradicting a positive correlation).

Answer:

B. 0; relatively no correlation.