Olympics Project: Women’s 100 Meter Backstroke

Rylee Nepple

Year Time
1948 74.4
1952 74.3
1956 72.9
1960 69.3
1964 67.7
1968 66.2
1972 65.78
1976 61.83
1980 60.86
1984 62.55
1988 60.89
1992 60.68
1996 61.19
2000 60.21
2004 60.37
2008 58.96
2012 58.33
2016 58.45
 The relationship of the data set is a strong, negative, linear correlation. This means that as the
years increase, the winning time decreases.

Yes, a linear model is appropriate for the two variables. The correlation coefficient is -.9302,
meaning that there is a strong negative correlation. Also, there are the same numbers of points
with a positive residual as there are with a negative residual, meaning the data set is linear. The
standard deviation of the residual is 2.06, so there aren’t any major outliers either.
Least Squares Regression Line: ˆTimeˆ= 534 - .237(year)
For each added year, the winning time decreases by .237 seconds.
When the year was 0, the time was 534 seconds. This intercept is irrelevant because the event did
not exist when the year was 0.
2020 Predicted Time: ˆTimeˆ= 534 - .237(2020)
ˆTimeˆ= 55.26 seconds
Residual of 1992: Residual= Actual time – Predicted time
ˆTimeˆ= 534 - .237(1992) = 61.89 seconds
Residual= 60.68 – 61.89 = -1.21 seconds
A residual of -1.21 seconds means that the time from 1992 is 1.21 seconds below the time
predicted by the line of best fit.
R value: r= -.9302; this means that the correlation between the year and the winning time is a
strong, negative, linear correlation. When the year increases, the time decreases.
R2 value: r2= .8653, or 86.53%; this means that 86.53% of variability in times can be explained
by the linear relationship to the year.
Mean and Standard Deviation: x-value (Year) Mean= 1982 Standard Deviation= 21
y-value (Time) Mean= 64.2 s Standard Deviation= 5.4 s
𝑆𝑦
Confirmation Calculations: 𝑏 = 𝑟 ∙ 𝑆
𝑥

-.237= -.9302(5.4/21)
-.237= -.239 (error due to rounding)

LSRL goes through (x̄, ȳ)

ȳ = 534 - .237(x̄)
64.2 = 534 - .237(1982)
64.2 = 64.26 (error due to rounding)

References
100m backstroke women. (2018, December 13). Retrieved from
https://www.olympic.org/swimming/100m-backstroke-women