Final answer:
To model the relationship between height and circumference of young trees, we can use linear regression to find the equation of the line of best fit. The equation of a line is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. We can use two points on the line to find the equation, and then substitute the desired value to find the predicted height.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scatterplot represents the relationship between height and circumference of young trees. To model this relationship, we need to find an equation that best fits the data. Since the scatterplot appears to have a linear pattern, we can use linear regression to find the equation of the line of best fit. The equation of a line is given by the formula y = mx + b, where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept.
To find the equation, we need to calculate the slope and y-intercept. Pick two points on the line and use the slope formula, which is (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1), to find the slope. Then, substitute the values of one of the points and the slope into the equation y = mx + b to solve for b, the y-intercept.
Once we have the values of m and b, we can write the equation of best fit. The predicted height for a pinky length of 2.5 inches would be calculated by substituting this value into the equation.