16Hit1600
Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisHardPoint farthest from the line of best fit

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question

x | actual y | predicted y 1 | 8 | 7 3 | 15 | 11 5 | 14 | 15 7 | 20 | 19

The table shows the actual y-value and the y-value predicted by a line of best fit at four values of x. At which value of x is the actual point FARTHEST from the line?

  1. A. x = 3Correct
  2. B. x = 1
  3. C. x = 5
  4. D. x = 7

Answer: A. x = 3

The distance from the line is the gap between actual and predicted: 1, 4, 1 and 1 respectively. The largest gap, 4, is at x = 3.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. x = 1
At x = 1 the gap is 8 − 7 = 1.
C. x = 5
At x = 5 the gap is 15 − 14 = 1 (the point is below the line, but only by 1).
D. x = 7
At x = 7 the gap is 20 − 19 = 1.

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