Activity Overview
In this activity, students fit a linear least-square regression line to a population data. They explore various functions to model the given data.
Before the Activity
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 27 - 36 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to your class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Enter the data for the year and population as a list
Set up a scatter plot and try to fit the data by a linear least-square regression line
Calculate the fit equation
Plot the data scatter and fit equation
Plot the residuals
Verify whether the data follows a linear regression
Observe that the residuals trace a parabola
Measure the sum of squared residual errors to determine the closeness of the fit
Predict the population for a given year
Calculate r and r2 as measure of linearity
Repeat steps to model fits for quadratic, logarithmic, exponential, and power regressions for the population data
Compare the various fits
After the Activity
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary