document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=366155>Question 366155</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The best-fit line (or regression line) on a scatter diagram is a line that lies closer to the data points than any other possible line (according to a standard statistical measure of closeness).  Why do we need to distinguish between strong and weak correlation of data sets using best-fit lines?  When a correlation has been established between the two data sets, how is it linked to causality?   </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #260954 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=260954\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A correlation that is close to -1 or 1 shows that there's a bigger chance of causality (as opposed to a correlation that's closer to 0)<BR>\n" );
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