Question:easy

Correlation coefficient is independent of

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Correlation coefficient is \[ \boxed{\text{Independent of change of origin and change of scale.}} \]
Updated On: Jul 23, 2026
  • Sample size
  • Change of scale
  • Change of origin
  • Both change of scale & origin
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Think in terms of standardized values.
Correlation is really computed on the standardized (z-score) versions of the two variables, $z_x=\dfrac{x-\bar x}{\sigma_x}$ and similarly for $y$.
Step 2: See what shifting or scaling does to a z-score.
Adding a constant to $x$ (change of origin) shifts both $x$ and $\bar x$ equally, so it cancels out in $x-\bar x$. Multiplying $x$ by a positive constant (change of scale) scales both the numerator and $\sigma_x$ by the same factor, so it also cancels.
Step 3: Conclude for the correlation coefficient.
Since the z-scores don't change under either operation, the correlation coefficient built from them doesn't change either.
\[ \boxed{\text{Both change of scale \& origin}} \]
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