What is a Scatterplot?
A Scatterplot, also known as an XY plot, is a type of graph that uses dots or bubbles to show the relationship between two numerical variables.
Each bubble on the graph represents one data point, with its position on the graph determined by its values on the x-axis and y-axis.
One value from the X-axis (independent variable - horizontal)
One value from the Y-axis (dependent variable - vertical)
Key Uses:
Spotting trends or patterns in data
Identifying Correlations — Whether two variables tend to move together
Finding Outliers — Data points that don't fit the pattern
Types of correlation you might see:
Positive — As x increases, y increases (dots slope upward)
Negative — As x increases, y decreases (dots slope downward)
No correlation — Dots are scattered randomly with no clear pattern