Which statement best describes a negative correlation in a scatter plot?

Which statement best describes a negative correlation in a scatter plot?

• A. As one variable increases, the other decreases
• B. As one variable increases, the other increases
• C. There is no relationship
• D. Correlation is random

Answer: (A)

A negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease. In a scatter plot this shows up as a downward-sloping pattern: higher values of the first variable tend to align with lower values of the second. The statement that matches this is that as one variable increases, the other decreases. If they move together (both increase), that’s a positive correlation. If there’s no clear pattern, the relationship is weak or nonexistent. Describing correlation as random isn’t a precise way to capture a clear downward trend.

A negative correlation means that as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease. In a scatter plot this shows up as a downward-sloping pattern: higher values of the first variable tend to align with lower values of the second. The statement that matches this is that as one variable increases, the other decreases. If they move together (both increase), that’s a positive correlation. If there’s no clear pattern, the relationship is weak or nonexistent. Describing correlation as random isn’t a precise way to capture a clear downward trend.