Final answer:
The correct method for predicting and comparing values of variables is Regression analysis, which uses a regression line to predict the value of a dependent variable based on the value of one or more independent variables.
Step-by-step explanation:
The method for making a prediction to compare the value of one variable to another is D. Regression analysis. Regression analysis is a statistical tool for the investigation of relationships between variables. Usually, the method considers a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. For example, the regression line in a simple linear regression model predicts the value of the dependent variable based on the known value of the independent variable. In the context of the example, if we wanted to predict the total cost of supplies for a term based on the distance a person lives from campus, we could use regression analysis. This method would help us understand if there is a significant correlation and the strength of that correlation.
To illustrate, if we know that the total cost of supplies (dependent variable 'y') changes based on the distance from campus (independent variable 'x'), using collected data we can create a regression equation, like ŷ = a + bx, where 'a' is the intercept, 'b' is the slope, and 'ŷ' is the predicted value of y. If we find that the correlation is significant, we can confidently use this equation to make predictions about the cost of supplies based on the distance from campus.