Final answer:
The correlation coefficient in a scatterplot can be influenced by including the lowest point Barbie reaches on the horizontal axis. It could increase, decrease, or remain the same depending on the value of the lowest point. However, specific data points do not solely determine the correlation coefficient.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a scatterplot, the correlation coefficient (r) measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables. If the lowest point Barbie reaches is graphed on the horizontal axis, it could potentially influence the correlation coefficient.
a. If the lowest point Barbie reaches has a large positive value on the horizontal axis, it could increase the correlation. This is because a positive correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable tends to increase as well. Including a data point with a high value on the horizontal axis could reinforce this positive relationship.
b. If the lowest point Barbie reaches has a large negative value on the horizontal axis, it could decrease the correlation. This is because a negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other variable tends to decrease. Including a data point with a low value on the horizontal axis could weaken this negative relationship.
c. If the lowest point Barbie reaches is within a range that does not strongly influence the overall trend of the scatterplot, the correlation may remain the same.
d. Although specific data points can affect the correlation coefficient, in general, it is not solely affected by specific data points. Factors such as the overall pattern and distribution of the data points have a greater impact on the correlation coefficient.