GDC skills: TI-Nspire CX

Chapter 6 / Example 2
Scatter graphs and correlation

The table gives test results in mathematics and biology for eight students.
Mathematics (x) 20 25 28 30 32 37 42 48
Biology (y) 24 20 22 21 25 28 30 32
a Plot the data points on a set of axes.
b Comment on any correlation you can see on the graph.
c Find Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient for this data and compare
it with your answer to b.

Open a new document and add a Lists & Spreadsheet page.

Type ‘x’ in the first cell.

Enter the x-values in the first column.

Press · or ¤ after each number to move to the next cell.

Type ‘y’ in the cell to the right of ‘x’.

Enter the y-values in the second column.

Use the £ ¤ ¢ ¡ keys on the touchpad to navigate the

spreadsheet.

Add a new Data & Stastistics page to your document by

pressing / ~ (¿) 5:Add Data & Statistics.

Note: Ignore the screen display that you see when this page first
opens.

Press b 2:Plot Properties | 5: Add X Variable

The GDC displays the two variables you created in the
spreadsheet: ‘x’ and ‘y’.

Select ‘x’ with the touchpad.

© Oxford University Press 2019 1

 GDC skills: TI-Nspire CX

Chapter 6 / Example 2
Scatter graphs and correlation

Press b 2:Plot Properties | 8: Add Y Variable

The GDC displays the two variables you created in the
spreadsheet: ‘x’ and ‘y’.

Select ‘x’ with the touchpad.

The GDC displays a scatter diagram of x against y.

The points lie close to a straight line.

Press / ¡ to return to the lists and spreadsheets page.

Press b 4:Statistics | 1:Stat Calculations | 3:Linear
Regression (mx+b)…

Open the drop down lists with ¢ and select using ¤ and ·
Choose ‘x’ for X List and ‘y’ for Y List and leave the remaining
fields unchanged.

Click the touchpad on OK or press ·

Scroll down the calculated values to ‘r’.

Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient for this

data, r  0.864 .
There is a strong positive correlation between the two sets of
test scores.

© Oxford University Press 2019 2