To be Linear or not To be Linear: That is the Question
Name: ______________________________ Period: _________________
You are going to collect data on three different sets of data. I give you the first two data
sets to test. You must have the data collected by _______ because we will begin graphing
and analyzing the data. You will pick the third data set. I must approve the data set by
________. This data must be collected by __________. ______ will be the last day to
work on the project in class. You will be presenting your findings on _____________.
See the attached rubric to see how your grade will be determined. Answer all questions
and draw all graphs on a separate piece of paper.
Part A: Height (x) and Weight (y)
Ask 30 people their height and weight. Record the data and do the following:
(If you want you can pass around a sheet of paper with 30 spots for the information, so
you will not know who weighs what to help avoid people not wanting to give you the
information).
 Plot all the data by hand on the graph paper. Create a best fit of line. Write out the
equation for your line. Make sure you label your axis.
 Write/create a prediction table for heights 5 ft, 5.5 feet, 6 ft, and 7 ft.
 Write a paragraph explaining your findings. Can you use a linear model to
represent the relationship between the items being tested? State clearly why or
why not.
Part B: Height (x) and GPA (y)
Ask 30 people their height and GPA. Record the data and do the following:
 Plot all the data by hand on the graph paper. Create a best fit of line. Write out the
equation for your line. Make sure you label your axis.
 Write/create a prediction table for heights 5 ft, 5.5 feet, 6 ft, and 7 ft.
 Write a paragraph explaining your findings. Can you use a linear model to
represent the relationship between the items being tested? State clearly why or
why not.
Part C:
Think of a question that asks about a cause and effect relationship between two
measurable quantities.
 Choose 2 items that you want to collect data for. This will be tested as was done
in parts a and b. That is collect 30 pieces of data.
 Graph your data using an appropriate choice of scales. Draw your best fit of line
and give the equation that describes the line.
 Use your equation to predict three data points that are not represented by the data.
 In paragraph form: What do the variables in your equation represent? What does
the equation represent? Does this data seem to be a linear relationship? Why did
you choose these items to be tested?
Turn-In Section Of Project
0
1
2
Part A
30 pieces
Less than
10-20 data
21-29 data points
of data
10 data
points
points
Hand
No graph
Has a graph
Has a graph with a
drawn
and no best but no best
line, but not the best
graph with
fit of line
fit of line
fit of line
best fit of
line
Equation No equation Cannot read
Equation does not
of best fit
equation but
match the best fit of
of line
can tell one
line
is written
Prediction
Has 0
Has 1 or 2
Has 3 predications
Table
predications predications
Paragraph Did not do
Just has a
No sure about some of
findings
yes or no
the
answer. No arguments/justification
justification.
used, but has some
type of justification
Part B
30 pieces
Less than
10-20 data
21-29 data points
of data
10 data
points
points
Hand
No graph
Has a graph
Has a graph with a
drawn
and no best but no best
line, but not the best
graph with
fit of line
fit of line
fit of line
best fit of
line
Equation No equation Cannot read
Equation does not
of best fit
equation but
match the best fit of
of line
can tell one
line
is written
Prediction
Has 0
Has 1 or 2
Has 3 predications
Table
predications predications
Paragraph Did not do
Just has a
No sure about some of
findings
yes or no
the
answer. No arguments/justification
justification.
used
Part C
Did I
NO
approve
your data
3
30 data
points
Has graph
with best fit
of line
Equation
matches the
best fit of
line
Has all 4
predications
Clear and
well argued.
30 data
points
Has graph
with best fit
of line
Equation
matches the
best fit of
line
Has all 4
predications
Clear and
well argued.
Yes
Total
set?
30 pieces
of data
Less than
10 data
points
No graph
and no best
fit of line
Hand
drawn
graph with
best fit of
line
Equation No equation
of best fit
of line
Prediction
Table
Paragraph
findings
Has no
predictions
Answered 1
question
poorly or
did not
answer at
all
10-20 data
points
21-29 data points
30 data
points
Has a graph
but no best
fit of line
Has a graph with a
line, but not the best
fit of line
Has graph
with best fit
of line
Cannot read
equation but
can tell one
is written
Has 1
prediction
Answered 2
questions
poorly
OR
Answered 1
question
clearly.
Equation does not
match the best fit of
line
Equation
matches the
best fit of
line
Has 3
predictions
Answered
all 3
questions
clearly.
Has 2 predictions
Answered all 3
questions poorly
OR
Answered 2 questions
clearly.
Presentation Rubric
This is the rubric for presentations. You will be presenting the information from part
c. You will grade each other also using this rubric. The class presentation grade will
be 20% of your presentation grade.
0
1
2
3
Total
Clarity
Understood
Had a hard
Understood Understood
Nothing
time
majority of
everything.
understanding
what was
what was
being said.
beginning
Sometimes
said because
spoke too
too soft or
soft.
mumbled
Graph
Graph is
Graph is clear
Graph is
Graph is
messy with
but missing
clear but
clear with
no axis or
axis and best missing the labeled axis
best fit of
fit of line
axis
and a best fit
line
OR
of line
OR
Graph is
did not do messy but has
axis and best
fit of line
Said which
Did not
Only said 1
Said which
Said which
2 items is
mention
of the items
2 items are
2 are being
being tested
being tested
being tested
tested and
but not why
why they
choose it
Explained
Mentioned
Mentioned
Mentioned
Mentioned
your
none of the
one of the
two of the
all of the
findings
following
following
following
following
items:
items:
items:
items:
variables
variables
variables
variables
stood for,
stood for,
stood for,
stood for,
equation
equation
equation
equation
meant, and
meant, and if
meant, and
meant, and
if it is a
it is a linear
if it is a
if it is a
linear model model or not linear model linear model
or not
or not
or not