What does a scatter plot depict?

A scatter plot is a graphical representation used to illustrate the relationship between two quantitative variables. Each point on the scatter plot corresponds to an observation from the dataset, with its position determined by the values of the two variables being analyzed. This allows for easy visualization of correlations, helping to identify patterns or trends in the relationship. For example, if there is a positive correlation between the variables, the points will tend to cluster in an upward direction; if there is a negative correlation, they will cluster downward. If there is no clear pattern, it may suggest that the variables are independent of each other.

In contrast, the other options represent different aspects of data analysis. The frequency distribution of a single variable pertains to how often each value occurs in a dataset, typically visualized through histograms or bar charts. The trend of a variable over time is best depicted using line graphs, which display changes in the variable at different time intervals. The central tendency of a dataset, referring to measures like mean, median, and mode, summarizes the dataset with a single value but does not provide insights into relationships between multiple variables.