Which table of paired values ($x$, $y$) shows a negative correlation (as $x$ increases, $y$ tends to decrease)?

• A. Table A: $(1,9),(2,7),(3,5),(4,3)$
• B. Table B: $(1,2),(2,4),(3,6),(4,8)$
• C. Table C: $(1,5),(2,5),(3,5),(4,5)$
• D. Table D: $(1,4),(2,7),(3,3),(4,6)$

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a negative correlation means that as the values of \( x \) increase, the values of \( y \) tend to decrease.
2. Look at each table and observe the pattern of \( y \) values as \( x \) increases.
3. For Table A, check if \( y \) decreases when \( x \) goes from 1 to 4: the pairs are (1,9), (2,7), (3,5), (4,3). Notice that \( y \) decreases as \( x \) increases.
4. For Table B, observe if \( y \) increases or decreases as \( x \) increases: the pairs are (1,2), (2,4), (3,6), (4,8). Here, \( y \) increases with \( x \), so this is a positive correlation.
5. For Tables C and D, similarly check the trend of \( y \) values with increasing \( x \). Table C has constant \( y \) values, indicating no correlation, and Table D has no clear increasing or decreasing pattern, so it does not show a consistent negative correlation.