Pearson's correlation between three variables; using students' basic knowledge of geometry for an exercise in mathematical statistics

• Autores: P. Vos
• Localización: International journal of mathematical education in science and technology, ISSN 0020-739X, Vol. 40, Nº. 4, 2009, págs. 533-541
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/00207390802419578
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • When studying correlations, how do the three bivariate correlation coefficients between three variables relate? After transforming Pearson's correlation coefficient r into a Euclidean distance, undergraduate students can tackle this problem using their secondary school knowledge of geometry (Pythagoras' theorem and similarity of triangles). Through a geometric interpretation, we start from two correlation coefficients rAB and rBC and then estimate a range for the third correlation rAC. In the case of three records (n = 3), the third correlation rAC can only attain two possible values. Crossing borders between mathematical disciplines, such as statistics and geometry, can assist students in deepening their conceptual knowledge.