When is a curved trend line more appropriate than a straight one?

When the data rises or falls at a changing rate, so that no straight line follows the pattern.

Why is a trend line helpful when the points are widely scattered?

It brings out the underlying pattern that the scatter of individual readings hides.

What is a line of best fit?

A single straight line positioned through a scatter of points so that it passes as close as possible to all of them, with roughly as many points above it as below.

OCR GCSE Geography A J383

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Geographical Skills

Trend lines and lines of best fit

3 things to know
Component 03

Overview

Trend lines and what upward, curved and steep ones show, lines of best fit and whether they must touch every point or the origin, leaving out anomalies, estimating unmeasured values and how reliable they are, and how a line of best fit differs from joining the points.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is a trend line on a graph?

Key term

What does an upward trend line on a scatter graph tell you?

Key term

What does a steep trend line mean compared with a shallow one?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is a trend line on a graph?
Model answer
A line added to show the general direction in which the data is moving, rather than one joining every point.
2
What does an upward trend line on a scatter graph tell you?
Model answer
The two variables have a positive relationship, rising together.
3
When is a curved trend line more appropriate than a straight one?
Model answer
When the data rises or falls at a changing rate, so that no straight line follows the pattern.
4
Why is a trend line helpful when the points are widely scattered?
Model answer
It brings out the underlying pattern that the scatter of individual readings hides.
5
What does a steep trend line mean compared with a shallow one?
Model answer
The value is changing faster for each unit of change in the other variable.
6
What is a line of best fit?
Model answer
A single straight line positioned through a scatter of points so that it passes as close as possible to all of them, with roughly as many points above it as below.

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Ecosystems of the Planet

Environmental Threats to Our Planet

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