Question

Choose the scatter plot with data that could best be modeled by a linear function.

Short answer

The scatter plot in (d) can be best modeled by a linear function.

Step-by-step solution

– State the concept

The graph of a linear function is a straight line. So, the data which approximately follows a linear trend, that is, whose scatter plot can be approximately represented by a line, can best be modeled by a linear function.

– List the given data

Four scatter plots as follows:

The objective is to choose the scatter plot that could best be modeled by a linear function.

– Choose the plot

Out of the four given scatter plots, only the data in the scatter plot in (d) appears to approximately lie on a line and thus can be approximately represented by a line.

So, the scatter plot in (d) can be best modeled by a linear function.