Inverse Positive Correlation

Comments

• goingfor99th Free Trial Member

  May 2018 edited May 2018 3072 karma

  Not absolutely, because too much of a decrease in cholesterol could potentially increase your risk of heart attack beyond a certain level. I suppose you could infer a reverse correlation assuming you know the starting point and there aren't any wild variables.

  This also isn't what an "inverse" correlation is. An inverse correlation would be where A increases and B decreases, or where A decreases and B increases. So, as cholesterol level increases, heart attack risk decreases.

  inverse correlation = negative correlation
  direct correlation = positive correlation
• FixedDice Member

  May 2018 edited May 2018 1804 karma

  I think it's a reasonable inference to a certain point. I'm not sure the term for that is "inverse of a positive correlation" though. I know there's inverse (i.e. negative) correlation, but inverse of a positive correlation...

  I was a lowly humanities major though, so someone who majored in science or math might be able to enlighten me. Anyone...?
• goingfor99th Free Trial Member

  May 2018 3072 karma

  @FixedDice said:
  I think it's a reasonable inference to a certain point. I'm not sure the term for that is "inverse of a positive correlation" though. I know there's inverse (i.e. negative) correlation, but inverse of a positive correlation...

  I was a lowly humanities major though, so someone who majored in science or math might be able to enlighten me. Anyone...?

  Hey, I'm a humanities major!
• 1 Like

  AngusMcGillis Member

  May 2018 edited May 2018 403 karma

  @FixedDice said:

  I was a lowly humanities major though, so someone who majored in science or math might be able to enlighten me. Anyone...?

  lol.
  Science major here.
  These graphs from Wikipedia might help
  
  Here are some different forms of correlation.

  For the graph on the top left, it's probably safe to assume the formula is that of a straight line, Eg. x=y
  as x or y increase the other follows.
  If for the cholesterol/heart attack example, the correlation is like x=y, then yes, if one decreased the other would as well.

  but context is key, without more information the correlation could be anything or only within certain parameters. I would proceed with caution.
• FixedDice Member

  May 2018 1804 karma

  I appreciate the explanation, but what I wanted to know was whether "inverse of a positive correlation" is an appropriate terminology. @AngusMcGillis
• AngusMcGillis Member

  May 2018 edited June 2018 403 karma

  @FixedDice said:
  I appreciate the explanation, but what I wanted to know was whether "inverse of a positive correlation" is an appropriate terminology. @AngusMcGillis

  Oh, sorry I was tired last night
  You were correct. The logical inverse of x then is -x then -y, a mathematical inverse is switching the function's x and y. and Positive/negative direct/inverse correlation refers to direction of the relationship (up or down), so it's fixed to the correlation.
• Hamaseh_S Alum Member

  May 2018 edited May 2018 436 karma

  @AngusMcGillis said:

  @FixedDice said:
  I appreciate the explanation, but what I wanted to know was whether "inverse of a positive correlation" is an appropriate terminology. @AngusMcGillis

  Oh, sorry I was tired last night
  You were correct. The inverse of x=y is -x = -y, so it would imply a different relationship. Positive/negative just refers to the slope (up or down), so it's fixed to the correlation.

  Positive correlation = grows in same directions
  negative = grows in opposite direction

  So the negative slop of positive correlation could also be a decrease,decrease relationship right... which is why I called it inverse bc I don't know what else it's called.... except for a negative - positive correlation hahahah

  Also from what u said (x = y is -x = -y) it seems like "inverse" is the correct term???

  Irrelevant to my Q but now I'm curious
• Hamaseh_S Alum Member

  May 2018 436 karma

  Thanks for your responses!
• AngusMcGillis Member

  June 2018 403 karma

  @Hamaseh_S said:
  Positive correlation = grows in same directions
  negative = grows in opposite direction

  Yep you're right.
  
  seems like for a correlation the terms direct/positive are interchangeable, and negative/inverse

  Also from what u said (x = y is -x = -y) it seems like "inverse" is the correct term???

  but the Inverse correlation is a fundamentally different relationship.
  What you are referring to is simply reducing one parameter (let's say cholesterol) and the point slides to the left on graph.

  Irrelevant to my Q but now I'm curious

  I think the word inverse starts to get confusing.
  There is a logical inverse E.g. x=y to -x = -y. Mathematical inverse, when you make the x and the y switch sides. Eg. y=2x and the inverse x=2y.
  And the inverse correlation is just a negative one(downward slope).