Chapter 1
Number and Quantity
Course: Core Academic Skills For Educators Combined Test 5752
Subject: Core Academic Skills Educators Mathematics 5733
Chapter: Data Interpretation And Representation Statistics And Probability
A linear model is used to describe and predict the relationship between two quantitative variables that appear to follow a straight-line trend when plotted on a scatterplot. The model provides an equation of a line that best represents the data. This is valuable because it allows us to estimate unknown values, forecast trends, and understand how one variable changes in relation to another.
The general form of a linear model is:
y = mx + b
where y is the dependent variable (the outcome being predicted), x is the independent variable (the predictor or input), m is the slope of the line (the rate of change of y with respect to x), and b is the intercept (the value of y when x = 0).