Question

Identify the explanatory and response variables in the following situation:

There is a strong negative correlation between latitude above the equator and average temperature on December 21.

A: Explanatory: Latitude
Response: Daylight hours
B. Explanatory: Latitude
Response: Average temperature
C. Explanatory: Daylight hours
Response: Latitude
D. Explanatory: Time of year
Response: Daylight hours

Answer 1

The best answer would be letter B. The explanatory variable in the situation given above would be the latitude, while the response variable would be the average temperature. The explanatory variable is another term for the independent variable while the response variable is another term for dependent variable.

Answer 2

Negative correlation refers to an inverse relationship between two variables. When one variable increases, the other decreases.

The variables are latitude and average temperature.

The explanatory variable is latitude and the response is the average temperature. Choice B.

As the latitude increases, the average temperature decreases. This is a strong negative correlation of between the two variables.