If a line on a graph slopes upward from left to right, what does it indicate about the relationship between the two variables?

If a line on a graph slopes upward from left to right, what does it indicate about the relationship between the two variables?

• A. A decreasing relationship or negative trend.
• B. A positive relationship or an increasing trend.
• C. No relationship.
• D. An exponential relationship.

Answer: (B)

When a line slopes upward from left to right, the direction of change shows a positive relationship between the variables: as one variable increases, the other also increases. This is an increasing trend, a direct association between the variables. If the line sloped downward, that would indicate a negative relationship; a flat line would suggest no relationship. An exponential relationship, by contrast, is curved rather than a straight line, so the straight, upward slope specifically signals a positive, increasing relationship.

When a line slopes upward from left to right, the direction of change shows a positive relationship between the variables: as one variable increases, the other also increases. This is an increasing trend, a direct association between the variables. If the line sloped downward, that would indicate a negative relationship; a flat line would suggest no relationship. An exponential relationship, by contrast, is curved rather than a straight line, so the straight, upward slope specifically signals a positive, increasing relationship.