Answer Choices
In 2005, the lowest housing cost in the United States was about $61 per month.
In 2005, the lowest housing cost in the United States was about 61% of the highest housing cost.
In 2005, even in cities with low population densities, housing costs were never below 61% of the national average.
In 2005, even in cities with low population densities, housing costs were likely at least 61% of the national average.
Explanation for Question 27 From the Math (Calc) Section on the Official Sat Practice Test 4
Now hearing question number 27, we're looking at a graph, 2 right? It's about relative housing costs for us city as the average housing cost 3 for the city over the national cost. 4 Right? And so here we have a scatter plot and then it looks like 5 we have a line of best fit right here, 6 going through the scatter plot and lines of best fit aren't actual data. 7 Um, they're kind of like predictions of data, but they kind of summarize the 8 direction in which the data goes. So see how all these points are pointed 9 upwards and into the right. That's why the line is kind of drawn in 10 the middle of them. Um, also pointing upwards and to the right. 11 And so our question asks us and the scatter plot above, 12 um, we're showing relative housing cost and population density in 2005. 13 And this is the equation of that line. 14 Like I said, it's a line of best fit. And then we're asked which 15 of the following best explains how the number 61 fits into the 16 equation of the scatter plot, right? 17 So that 61 is in our line equation. 18 And this is in the same equation as Y intercept form and notice it 19 or be right. And Y intercept form is what we actually know is our 20 Y intercept here. 21 Um, and the Y intercept would go right here. 22 So essentially we have a starting point of 61 because 61 is in the 23 same place as our Y intercept, but notice what's happening at our Y intercept. 24 Sure. We're at a height of 61, which means the relative housing cost was 25 perhaps 61%. Um, ...