Linear Regression

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Multiple Choice Questions on Linear Regression

1. Residuals are

(A) possible models not explored by the researcher.

(B) variation in the response variable that is explained by the model.
(C) the difference between the observed response and the values predicted by
the model.
(D) data collected from individuals that is not consistent with the rest of the group.
(E) a measure of the strength of the linear relationship between x and y

2. Data was collected on two variables x and y and a least squares regression line was
fitted to the data. The resulting equation is yˆ = −2.29 + 1.70 x . What is the residual for
point (5, 6)?

(A) −2.91
(B) −0.21
(C) 0.21
(D) 6.21
(E) 7.91

3. Child development researchers studying growth patterns of children collect data on

the heights of fathers and sons. The correlation between the fathers’ heights and the
heights of their 16-year-old sons is most likely to be…

(A) near −1.0

(B) near 0
(C) near +0.7
(D) exactly +1.0
(E) somewhat greater than +1.0

4. Given a set of ordered pairs ( x, y ) with sx = 2.5 , s y = 1.9 , r = .63 , what is the slope
of the regression line of y on x?

(A) 0.48
(B) 0.65
(C) 1.32
(D) 1.90
(E) 2.63

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These materials may be used for face-to-face teaching with students only.
 Linear Regression
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5. The relation between the selling price of a car (in $1,000) and its age (in years) is
estimated from a random sample of cars of a specific model. The relation is given by the
following formula:
SellingPrice = 24.2 − (1.182 ) Age

Which of the following can be concluded from this equation?

(A) For every year the car gets older, the selling price drops by approximately
$2420.
(B) For every year the car gets older, the selling price goes down by approximately
11.82 percent.
(C) On average, a new car costs about $11,820.
(D) On average, a new car costs about $23,018.
(E) For every year the car gets older, the selling price drops by approximately
$1182.

6. All but one of these statements is false. Which one could be true?

(A) The correlation between a football player’s weight and the position he plays is
0.54.
(B) The correlation between a car’s length and its fuel efficiency is 0.71 miles per
gallon.
(C) There is a high correlation (1.09) between height of a corn stalk and its age in
weeks.
(D) The correlation between the amounts of fertilizer used and quantity of beans
harvested is 0.42.
(E) There is a correlation of 0.63 between gender and political party.

7. It is easy to measure the circumference of a tree’s trunk, but not so easy to measure
its height. Foresters developed a model for ponderosa pines that they use to predict tree’s
height (in feet) from the circumference of its trunk (in inches):
ln hˆ = −1.2 + 1.4(ln C )
A lumberjack finds a tree with a circumference of 60 inches, how tall does this model
estimate the tree to be?

(A) 5 ft
(B) 11 ft
(C) 19 ft
(D) 83 ft
(E) 93 ft

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These materials may be used for face-to-face teaching with students only.
 Linear Regression
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8. Which is true?

I. Random scatter in the residuals indicates a linear model.

II. If two variables are very strongly associated, then the correlation between them
will be near +1.0 or −1.0.
III. Changing the units of measurement for x or y changes the correlation
coefficient.

(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

9. If the coefficient of determination r2 is calculated as 0.49, then the correlation

coefficient

(A) cannot be determined without the data

(B) is − 0.70
(C) is 0.2401
(D) is 0.70
(E) is 0.7599

10. Which of the following is a correct conclusion based on the residual plot displayed?

(A) The line overestimates the data.

(B) The line underestimates the data.
(C) It is not appropriate to fit a line to these data since there is clearly no correlation.
(D) The data are not related.
(E) There is a nonlinear relationship between the variables.

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These materials may be used for face-to-face teaching with students only.
 Linear Regression
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Free Response Questions on Linear Regression

1. The National Directory of Magazines tracks the number of magazines published in

the United States each year. An analysis of data from 1988 to 2007 gives the following
computer output. The dates were recorded as years since 1988. Thus, the year 1988 was
recorded as year 0. A residual plot (not shown) showed no pattern.
Predictor Coef StDev T P
Constant 13549.9 2.731 7.79 0.000
Years 325.39 0.1950 10.0 0.000

S = 836.2 R-Sq = 84.8% R-Sq (adj) = 80.6%

(a) What is the value of the slope of the least squares regression line? Interpret the slope
in the context of this situation.

(b) What is the value of the y-intercept of the least squares regression line? Interpret the
y-intercept in the context of this situation.

(c) Predict the number of magazines published in the United States in 1999.

(d) What is the value of the correlation coefficient for number of magazines published in
the US and years since 1988? Interpret this correlation.

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These materials may be used for face-to-face teaching with students only.
 Linear Regression
Page 8 of 18

2. The heights (in inches) and weights (in pounds) of six male Labrador Retrievers
were measured. The height of a dog is measured at the shoulder. A linear regression
analysis was done, and the residual plot and computer output are given below.

Predictor Coef StDev T P

Constant −13.430 1.724 7.792 0.0000
Height 3.6956 0.4112 8.987 0.0004

S = 2.297 R-Sq = 95.3% R-Sq (adj) = 90.6%

(a) Is a line an appropriate model to use for these data? What information tells you this?

(b) Write the equation of the least squares regression line. Identify any variables used in
this equation.

(c) Dakota, a male Labrador, was one of the dogs measured for this study. His height is
23.5 inches. Find Dakota’s predicted weight and Dakota’s actual weight.

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These materials may be used for face-to-face teaching with students only.
 Linear Regression
Page 9 of 18

3. As more miles are driven in a car, the resale value of the car generally declines. This
is called depreciation. For a certain make and model of car, information is gathered on
the resale price in dollars and the number of miles driven (in thousands of miles). The
scatterplot of price ( y ) versus miles ( x ), the residual plot, and the least squares
regression line is shown for this data. In addition, the scatterplot, residual plot, and the
accompanying best fit lines are shown for two other models using the common logarithm.

Model 1: yˆ = 29784 − 343.58 x r = −0.9452

Model 2: log yˆ = 4.4901 − .0071910 x r = −0.9765

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 Linear Regression
Page 10 of 18

Model 3: yˆ = 43254 − 17153 log x r = −0.9975

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 Linear Regression
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(a) Using Model 1, estimate a resale price for a car of this make and model which has
been driven 35,000 miles.

(b) Model 1 is not the most appropriate to use to compute an estimated resale price.
Explain why it is not appropriate, and determine whether Model 2 or Model 3 is better.

(c) Use the model you chose in part (b) to estimate a resale price for a car of this make
and model that has been driven 35,000 miles.

Copyright © 2008 Laying the Foundation, Inc., Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved.
These materials may be used for face-to-face teaching with students only.