Problem

What problem with the model does this patterned residual plot suggest: residuals are positive at low and high \(x\text{-}\text{values}\) and negative in the middle?

Unworked residual table or source residual plot presenting evidence without the requested conclusion.

Big Picture

What this problem is really about

Having residuals on both sides of zero is not enough; their order across x matters. Trace the sign pattern from low to high inputs, and if the points form a smooth curve or run, treat that structure as evidence the fitted model missed part of the relationship.

Answer choices

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Preview only

The residuals suggest there are separate groups in the data, so the model should use different lines for different clusters.

The residuals get larger as x increases, so the model has nonconstant variability rather than a shape problem.

The residuals make a curved pattern, so a linear model is not appropriate for these data.

The residuals are sometimes positive and sometimes negative, so the linear model fits well overall.

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What problem with the model does this patterned residual plot suggest: residuals are positive at low and high \(x\text{-}\text{values}\) and negative in the middle?

What this problem is really about

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