Data Analysis with Microsoft Excel: Updated for Office 2007

330 Statistical Methods

Let’s apply this diagnostic to the mortality index data. The Regression com-

mand creates this plot for you, but it can be diffi cult to read because of its size.

We’ll move the plot to a chart sheet and reformat the axes for easier viewing.

To create a plot of the residuals versus the predictor variable:

1 Scroll to cell J1 in the Regression Statistics worksheet and click the

Temperature Residual Plot.

2 Click the Move Chart button located in the Location group of the

Design tab on the Chart Tools ribbon.

3 Click the As new sheet option button and then type Residuals vs.

Temperature and click OK.

4 Rescale the horizontal axes of the temperature variable, so that the

lower boundary is 30. The revised plot appears in Figure 8-16.

Figure 8-15

Residuals

showing a

curved

relationship

Figure 8-16

Residuals

versus

temperature

values