Final answer:
The correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of the linear association between two variables. For this data, the correlation coefficient indicates a positive and strong correlation between the number of items purchased and the total cost.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of the linear association between two variables. In this case, the correlation coefficient for the data indicates the nature of the relationship between the number of items purchased and the total cost. To determine this, we need to look at the sign and magnitude of the correlation coefficient.
If the correlation coefficient is positive, it indicates a positive correlation, meaning that as the number of items increases, the total cost also increases, and vice versa. On the other hand, if the correlation coefficient is negative, it indicates a negative correlation, where as the number of items increases, the total cost decreases, and vice versa.
The strength of the correlation is determined by the magnitude of the correlation coefficient. The closer the correlation coefficient is to 1 (positive or negative), the stronger the correlation. Conversely, the closer the correlation coefficient is to 0, the weaker the correlation.
Based on the given options, the most appropriate answer would be C) positive and strong correlation.