How do I find and interpret the linear correlation coefficient?

1 Answer
Jan 2, 2017

See explanation. I would suggest that you look it up in a book. Dictionary of mathematics perhaps.

Explanation:

#color(blue)("Finding the coefficient")#

This is one of those questions that is rather like: "how long is a piece of string".

It all depends on the structure of the relationship which has many variations. So it is hard to give a definitive answer.

Linea points to a fixed value coefficient.

By example:

Let the independent variable be #x#
Let the dependant variable be #y#
Let the correlation coefficient be #k#

Then we have the general form of;

#y=kx#

To find the value of #k# divide both sides by #x# giving:

#k=y/x#
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#color(blue)("Interpreting the coefficient")#

Again this is dependant on context. Basically it fixes the major relationship between the dependant and independent variables.

It could be described as a conversion factor