Question 834517
A scatter plot is used to identify and describe potential trends within a given data set; pieces of data are collected and translated into points that, when graphed, can be used to define the nature behind two correlated variables ( x and y ). A line graph, on the other hand, displays the direct relationship between the variables x and y. The points plotted along any graphed line exist in infinite numbers, and can be inspected further by simply increasing or decreasing the increments used to create the range for each of the two variables. For example, one hoping to uncover a possible relation between a city’s recent increase in crime-rate and heightened temperatures caused by the entrance of a heat wave into the area. Line graphs however, are better suited in circumstances of record keeping; such as a retailer’s quarterly profit percentages being used to produce annual sales projections for the upcoming year.