In Exercises 29–36, identify what is wrong.
Cell Phones ...

Question

In Exercises 29–36, identify what is wrong.

Cell Phones and Pirates In recent years, the numbers of cell phones and the numbers of pirates have both increased, so there is a correlation, or association, between those two variables. Therefore, pirates cause increases in cell phones.

Accepted Answer

All right, hello, everyone. So this question says, in recent years, the sales of sunscreen and the number of shark attacks have both increased, so there is a correlation or association between these two variables. Therefore, an increase in sunscreen sales causes an increase in shark attacks. Explain why the conclusion in the given statement is incorrect. So here we're also given 4 different answer choices. Option A says shark attacks cause. People to buy more sunscreen as they want to protect themselves. Option B says the increase in both variables is due to an external factor such as more people visiting beaches in the summer. Option C says sunscreen contains chemicals that attract sharks, which explains the correlation. And option D says the observed correlation proves that using sunscreen leads to more shark attacks. All right, so first and foremost, this question is talking about this concept of correlation versus causation, right, so here we're talking about two distinct variables, that is the number of shark attacks. And also The amount of sunscreen that's being purchased, right? Now, correlation in this case refers to an association, right? So here, both variables that we're looking at have increased within a certain amount of time. However, just because there's a correlation between two or more variables doesn't necessarily mean that there's a causation to consider, right? And what I mean by that is just because the amount. Or rather sunscreen sales have increased and so have the number of shark attacks, doesn't necessarily mean that one causes the other. Right, so that's why we have to distinguish between correlation and causation. So Because Excuse me, because it's inaccurate to assume that one variable is going to directly cause the other, you have to consider multiple different factors that could potentially explain the correlation that we talked about previously. Now, when it comes to the increase in sunscreen sales, for example. You could focus on the seasons. Right. During the summer when there's more sun, more people are going to have to buy sunscreen. And generally speaking, they're more likely to go to the beach over summer vacation, right? And so, if more people are in turn going to the beach, then not only would they have to buy more sunscreen, but they would also be more vulnerable to a shark attack. So, therefore, right, our correct answer here is going to be option B. That is, the increase in both variables is due to an external factor such as more people visiting beaches in summer. And there you have it. So with that being said, thank you so very much for watching and I hope you found this helpful.

In Exercises 29–36, identify what is wrong.
Cell Phones and Pirates In recent years, the numbers of cell phones and the numbers of pirates have both increased, so there is a correlation, or association, between those two variables. Therefore, pirates cause increases in cell phones.

Key Concepts

Correlation vs. Causation

Spurious Correlation

Statistical Misinterpretation

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