Question

graduation rate is one measure used to compare colleges in national publications. one such publication compared semester tuition against graduation rate, defined as the percentage of students who graduate within four years. the value of r for the scatterplot is 0.856. college comparisons 4 - year graduation rate (%) semester tuition (thousands of dollars) which statement best describes how the circled point influences the correlation shown in the scatterplot? because the point follows the linear trend, the correlation does not change. because the point lies outside the linear trend, it strengthens the correlation. because the point lies outside the linear trend, it weakens the correlation.

Explanation:

Outliers that lie outside the linear trend of data points in a scatter - plot tend to weaken the correlation. The circled point is outside the general linear trend of the other points, so it will have a negative impact on the correlation.

Answer:

Because the point lies outside the linear trend, it weakens the correlation.