Which type of graph is most appropriate for analyzing the relationship between two quantitative variables, where one is $\mathrm{dependent}$ and the other is $\mathrm{independent}$?

• A. Pie chart
• B. Pareto chart
• C. Bar chart
• D. Scatter plot

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the types of variables involved: here, both variables are quantitative, meaning they are numerical and measurable.
2. Recognize that one variable is dependent (response variable) and the other is independent (predictor variable), which suggests we want to explore how changes in the independent variable affect the dependent variable.
3. Recall that a scatter plot is a graph that displays individual data points on a Cartesian plane, where the x-axis represents the independent variable and the y-axis represents the dependent variable.
4. Note that scatter plots are ideal for visualizing the relationship or correlation between two quantitative variables, allowing us to see patterns, trends, or clusters.
5. Compare with other graph types: pie charts and Pareto charts are used for categorical data, and bar charts are typically for comparing categories, so they are not suitable for analyzing relationships between two quantitative variables.