In this section, you will investigate ways to make predictions about data using scatterplots and other graphs.

The table below contains data describing the population of the United States as determined by the census.

Year Year Number
(since 1900)
Population
1940 40 132122446
1950 50 152271417
1960 60 180671158
1970 70 205052174
1980 80 227224681
1990 90 249464396
2000 100 281421906

This activity might not be viewable on your mobile device.Use the graphing applet to make a scatterplot of population versus year number. Use the scatterplot that is generated to answer the questions that follow.

Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

Click to see additional instructions for using the applet.

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To better use the applet, copy and paste the data from this table, which is a simplified version of the table that was presented above.

Year Number
(since 1900)
Population
40 132122446
50 152271417
60 180671158
70 205052174
80 227224681
90 249464396
100 281421906

Question 1

What was the approximate U.S. population in 1985?

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Hint 1

How many years after 1900 is the year 1985? Close Pop Up Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

Hint 2

What two data points would the year 1985 lie between? Close Pop Up Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

Check Your Answer

About 240,000,000 people Close Pop Up

Question 2

What was the approximate U.S. population in 1965?

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Hint 1

How many years after 1900 is the year 1965? Close Pop Up Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

Hint 2

What two data points would the year 1965 lie between? Close Pop Up Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

Check Your Answer

About 193,000,000 people Close Pop Up

Question 3

If the population continues changing at the current rate, what will be the approximate population in 2010?

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Hint 1

How many years after 1900 is the year 2010? Close Pop Up Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

Hint 2

Use the zoom features to zoom out in the graph, and estimate the data point for the year 2010. Close Pop Up Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

Check Your Answer

About 304,000,000 people Close Pop Up

Practice

The graph shows the relationship between the weight of a bicycle and the maximum height of a jump off the ground.

scatterplot of bike weight versus jump height

Interactive exercise. Assistance may be required.