IXL - Correlation and causation (Algebra 1 practice)

Each of these relationships reflects a correlation. Which relationship most likely reflects correlation but not causation?

When dishwashers wash more plates, they wash more pots and pans.

When servers wait on more tables, they take more orders.

When bussers clear more tables, they walk farther.

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question

Each of these relationships reflects a correlation. Which relationship most likely reflects both correlation and causation?

Eating burgers more often is associated with eating french fries more often.

Eating hot dogs more often is associated with eating coleslaw more often.

Eating sandwiches more often is associated with eating bread more often.

key idea

Correlation is not causation. Two quantities may be correlated, or associated, but that doesn't mean that a change in one quantity causes a change in the other.

There may be another reason for the correlation. For instance, maybe both quantities are influenced by another factor.

solution

This relationship most likely reflects both correlation and causation:

Eating sandwiches more often is associated with eating bread more often.
Sandwiches are made with bread. So, eating sandwiches causes a person to eat bread.

These relationships are not necessarily causal:

Eating burgers more often is associated with eating french fries more often.
Eating burgers does not cause a person to eat french fries, and eating french fries does not cause a person to eat burgers. Another factor can help explain the correlation, such as enjoying the combination of burgers and french fries.

Eating hot dogs more often is associated with eating coleslaw more often.
Eating hot dogs does not cause a person to eat coleslaw, and eating coleslaw does not cause a person to eat hot dogs. Another factor can help explain the correlation, like enjoying the combination of hot dogs and coleslaw.

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Lesson: Correlation

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Lesson: Correlation

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