What is the main purpose of a scatter plot?

The main purpose of a scatter plot is to visually represent the relationship between two quantitative variables. This type of graph displays individual data points on a two-dimensional grid, where one variable is plotted along the x-axis and the other along the y-axis. By doing this, scatter plots allow researchers to identify trends, correlations, and potential patterns between the variables.

For example, if one variable represents the hours studied and the other represents exam scores, a scatter plot can help show whether there is a positive correlation, indicating that as one variable increases, the other tends to increase as well. This visual representation can also highlight clusters of data points or outliers, providing insights that might not be as obvious through numerical data alone.

In other contexts, options such as showing changes over time, comparing categorical data, or analyzing frequency distribution pertain to different types of graphs or statistical methods. For instance, line graphs are typically used for time series data, bar charts are suitable for categorical comparisons, and histograms or frequency polygons are employed for displaying the distribution of data. Each of these has a specific function that differs from the primary role of a scatter plot.