Activity Overview
In this activity, students will analyze data from 1960 to 1992 to determine when mens' and womens' winning olympic times will be equal. Students use regression and systems of equations to answer a series of questions about the data.
Before the Activity
Students need to have a basic background in both regression and systems of equations, especially in solving a system by graphing.
During the Activity
Students should work alone or in small groups on the activity. Teachers should watch for students who do not enter the lists correctly when setting up their scatter plots. Be prepared to help students find the Y1 variable if they have not used this function before.
After the Activity
Review with students their answers to questions 5 and 6. They may benefit from a discussion about accuracy and error, noting a significant difference between, for example, 10.9 seconds and 10.2 seconds.