AP Statistics

AP Statistics

Chapter 10Re-Expressing data:

Get it Straight

Objectives:

• Re-expression of data• Ladder of powers

Straight to the Point

• We cannot use a linear model unless the relationship between the two variables is linear. Often re-expression (transformation) can save the day, straightening bent relationships so that we can fit and use a simple linear model.

• Two simple ways to re-express data are with logarithms and reciprocals.

• Re-expressions can be seen in everyday life—everybody does it.


• The relationship between fuel efficiency (in miles per gallon) and weight (in pounds) for late model cars looks fairly linear at first:


• A look at the residuals plot shows a problem:


• We can re-express fuel efficiency as gallons per hundred miles (a reciprocal) and eliminate the bend in the original scatterplot:


• A look at the residuals plot for the new model seems more reasonable:

Goals of Re-expression• Goal 1: Make the distribution of a variable (as seen in its

histogram, for example) more symmetric. It’s easier to summarize the center of a symmetric

distribution, we can use the mean and standard deviation.

If the distribution is unimodal also, we can analysis using the normal model.

Here taking the log of the explanatory variable.

Goals of Re-expression

• Goal 2: Make the spread of several groups (as seen in side-by-side boxplots) more alike, even if their centers differ. Groups that share a common spread are easier

to compare. Here taking the log makes the individual boxplots

more symmetric and gives them spreads that are more nearly equal.

Goals of Re-expression• Goal 3: Make the form of a scatterplot more

nearly linear. Linear scatterplots are easier to model. By re-expressing to straighten the scatterplot

relationship we can fit a linear model and use linear techniques to analysis.

Here taking the log of the response variable.

Goals of Re-expression• Goal 4: Make the scatter in a scatterplot spread

out evenly rather than thickening at one end. Having an even scatter is a condition of many

methods of Statistics, as we will see later. This is closely related to goal 2, but often comes

along with goal 3, as seen below. When taking the log to straighten the data, it also evened out the spread.

The Ladder of Powers

• There is a family of simple re-expressions that move data toward our goals in a consistent way. This collection of re-expressions is called the Ladder of Powers.

• The Ladder of Powers orders the effects that the re-expressions have on data.


Ratios of two quantities (e.g., mph) often benefit from a reciprocal.

The reciprocal of the data–1

An uncommon re-expression, but sometimes useful.

Reciprocal square root–1/2

Measurements that cannot be negative often benefit from a log re-expression.

We’ll use logarithms here“0”

Counts often benefit from a square root re-expression.

Square root of data values½

Data with positive and negative values and no bounds are less likely to benefit from re-expression.

Raw data1

Try with unimodal distributions that are skewed to the left.

Square of data values2

CommentNamePower


• The Ladder of Powers orders the effects that the re-expressions have on data.

• How it works. If you try taking the square root of all the values

in a variable and it helps, but not enough, then move further down the ladder to the log or reciprocal root. Those re-expressions will have a similar, but even stronger, effect on your data.

If you go too far, you can always back up. Remember, when you take a negative power, the

direction of the relationship will change. This is OK, you can always change the sign of the response variable if you want to keep the same direction.

Plan B: Attack of the Logarithms• When none of the data values is zero or

negative, logarithms can be a helpful ally in the search for a useful model.

• Try taking the logs of both the x- and y-variable.

• Then re-express the data using some combination of x or log(x) vs. y or log(y).

Plan B: Attack of the Logarithms

Multiple Benefits

• We often choose a re-expression for one reason and then discover that it has helped other aspects of an analysis.

• For example, a re-expression that makes a histogram more symmetric might also straighten a scatterplot or stabilize variance.

Why Not Just Use a Curve?

• If there’s a curve in the scatterplot, why not just fit a curve to the data?

Why Not Just Use a Curve?

• The mathematics and calculations for “curves of best fit” are considerably more difficult than “lines of best fit.”

• Besides, straight lines are easy to understand. We know how to think about the slope and the y-

intercept.

More Plan B: Modeling Nonlinear Data - Logarithms• Two specific types of nonlinear growth.

1. Exponential function (form y = abx)2. Power function (form y = axb)

• Equations of both forms can be transformed into linear forms.

• Can then use linear regression to model and analyze the transformed data.

• Can also perform an inverse transformation to obtain a model of the original data.

Transforming or Re-Expressing Exponential Data

Linear vs. Exponential Growth• Linear Growth – A variable grows linearly over

time if it adds a fixed increment in each equal time period. Arthmetic Sequence – common difference

(yn-yn-1)

• Exponential Growth – A variable grows exponentially if it is multiplied by a fixed number greater than 1 in each equal time period. Exponential decay occurs when the factor is less than 1. Geometric Sequence – common ratio (yn/yn-1)

To Transform the exponential Function use its Inverse the

Logarithmic Function

• Properties of Logarithms

Using Logarithms to Transform Data

• Logarithms can be useful in straightening a scatterplot whose data values are greater than zero.

• Remember, you cannot take the logarithm of a nonpositive number.

• When you use transformed data to create a linear model, your regression equation is not in terms of (x,y) but in terms of the transformed variable(s) (log ŷ or log x).

Logarithm Transformations

Test for Exponential Functions• View the scatterplot, does it look exponential?

• Calculate the common ratio between successive response values – yn/yn-1. Can only be used if the explanatory values (x)

change in equal increments.

Example: Testing for Exponential Association

• Data

View Scatterplot

• Looks like it has a curved pattern, could possibly be an exponential relationship.

Verify Exponential Association

• Density (y)4.56.14.35.57.49.87.910.613.416.921.225.631.035.641.244.250.750.657.464.070.3

• r = yn/yn-1

6.1/4.5 = 1.36

4.3/6.1 = .70

5.5/4.3 = 1.28

7.4/5.5 = 1.35

9.8/7.4 = 1.32

7.9/9.8 = .81

10.6/7.9 = 1.34

13.4/10.6 = 1.26

16.9/13.4 = 1.26

21.2/16.9 = 1.25

25.6/21.2 = 1.21

31.0/25.6 = 1.21

35.6/31.0 = 1.15

41.2/35.6 = 1.16

44.2/41.2 = 1.07

50.7/44.2 = 1.15

50.6/50.7 = 1.00

57.4/50.6 = 1.13

64.0/57.4 = 1.11

70.3/64.0 = 1.10

Is there a common ratio?YES, r≈1.2

(mean r=1.16 and median r=1.19)

Your Turn: Is the following data exponential & if so, what is r?

• Yes, it is exponential and r ≈ 1.45

Your Turn: Is the following data (Hours vs. Number) exponential & if so, what is r?

• No, it is not exponential.

Exponential Regression Procedure1. Verify data is exponential.

Graph scatterplot & calculate common ratio

2. Transform data to linear by taking the log of the response variable.

3. Calculate the LSRL for the transformed data; log ŷ =b0+b1x (linear model). Analyze using linear techniques, LSRL, r, r2, and residuals.

4. Find exponential model for the original data by inverse transformation of the LSRL, exponentiating both sides of the LSRL equation to base 10; ŷ = C • 10kx (exponential model).

Example: Data

• Year1880189019001910192019301940195019601970

• Mbbl30771493286891,4122,1503,8037,67416,690

Annual crude oil production from 1880 to 1970

What to do:

1. Graph scatterplot.

2. Calculate common ratio.

3. Transform data to linear (take the log of y).

4. Calculate LSRL of transformed data & graph.

5. Analyze transformed data (r, r2, residual plot).

6. Perform inverse transformation (exponentiate LSRL to base 10).

7. Graph exponential model.

Back to the Data

• Year1880189019001910192019301940195019601970

• Mbbl30771493286891,4122,1503,8037,67416,690

Annual crude oil production from 1880 to 1970

Models of Data• Data is exponential (scatterplot curved pattern

and constant common ratio ≈ 2.1)• Linear model

log ŷ=-53.7+.0294x

• Exponential model ŷ=(10-53.7) • 10.0294x

Use model on the calculate to make predictions, not the exponential model equation.

Predict oil production for 1956.• 6564 Mbbl

Predict oil production for 1992.• 75027 Mbbl – extrapolation, be careful.

Your Turn: Exponential Regression

Models of Data

• Data is exponential (scatterplot curved pattern and constant common ratio ≈ 1.5)

• Linear Model Log ŷ = -24.11 + .0157x

• Exponential Model ŷ = (10-24.11) • (10.0157x)

Your Turn: Age vs Height

Models for Data

• Data is exponential (scatterplot curved pattern and constant common ratio ≈ 1.04)

• Linear Model Log ŷ = 1.89 + .0241x

• Exponential Model ŷ = (101.89) • (10.0214x)

• If comparing Height vs Weight, could a common ratio be calculated? NO, because the explanatory variable Height

does not in crease in equal increments. Have to calculate different models and see which

best fits the data.

Transforming or Re-Expression Power Data

Power Function Model• Power Function general form: y = axb

• When we apply the log transformation to the response variable y in an exponential growth model, we produce a linear relationship. To produce a linear relationship from a power function model, we apply the log transformation to both variables (x & y).

• Here is how it is done. Power function model: y = axb

Take the log of both sides of the equation:log y = log (axb)

Using the product and power properties of logs, this results in a linear relationship between log y and log x.log y = log a + log xb

log y = log a + b log x The power b in the power function model becomes the

slope of the straight line that links log y to log x.

Inverse Transformation• Obtaining a power function model for the

original data from the LSRL on the transformed data.

• LSRL will have the form: log ŷ = a + b log x

• Inverse transform the LSRL by exponentiating both sides of the equation to base 10. 10log ŷ = 10(a + b log x)

ŷ = (10a)(10b log x) ŷ = (10a)(10log x)b

ŷ = (10a)(xb) which is in the form y = C · xb

• A Power Function (can not be done on the calulator, must be done by hand).

Power Function Procedure

1. Graph scatterplot.

2. Determine it is a power function (ie. not exponential).

3. Transform data to linear (take the log of y & x).

4. Calculate LSRL of transformed data & graph.

5. Analyze transformed data (r, r2, residual plot).

6. Perform inverse transformation (exponentiate LSRL to base 10).

7. Graph power model.

8. Make predictions based on the power model.

Example 1• The table shows the temperature of an instrument

measured as its distance from a heat source is varied. Find a suitable model for Dist. vs Temp.

• LSRL: log(Temp.) = 4.84 - .255 log(Dist.)

log ŷ = 4.84 - .255 log x• Power model: Temp. = (104.84)·(Dist.)-.255

ŷ = 104.84 · x-.255

Your Turn:

• The owner of a Video Game Store records the business costs and revenue for different years with the results listed. Find the best model.

• LSRL: log ŷ = 3.3 + .4 log x• Power model: ŷ = 103.3 · x.4 or ŷ = (1995)x.4

What Can Go Wrong?

• Don’t expect your model to be perfect.

• Don’t stray too far from the ladder.

• Don’t choose a model based on R2 alone:

What Can Go Wrong? • Beware of multiple modes.

Re-expression cannot pull separate modes together.

• Watch out for scatterplots that turn around.Re-expression can straighten many bent

relationships, but not those that go up then down, or down then up.

What Can Go Wrong?• Watch out for negative data values.

It’s impossible to re-express negative values by any power that is not a whole number on the Ladder of Powers or to re-express values that are zero for negative powers.

• Watch for data far from 1. Data values that are all very far from 1 may not

be much affected by re-expression unless the range is very large. If all the data values are large (e.g., years), consider subtracting a constant to bring them back near 1.

What have we learned?

• When the conditions for regression are not met, a simple re-expression of the data may help.

• A re-expression may make the: Distribution of a variable more symmetric. Spread across different groups more similar. Form of a scatterplot straighter. Scatter around the line in a scatterplot more

consistent.

What have we learned?

• Taking logs is often a good, simple starting point. To search further, the Ladder of Powers or the

log-log approach can help us find a good re-expression.

• Our models won’t be perfect, but re-expression can lead us to a useful model.

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