In statistics, a relationship between two variables is negative if the slope in a corresponding graph is negative, or—what is in some contexts equivalent—if the correlation between them is negative. Negative correlation is also variously called anti-correlation or indirect correlation.
Example:
"They observed a negative relationship between illness and vaccination."
As incident of vaccination is increasing, incidence of illness is decreasing, and vice versa.
Compare to a positive relationship: Observed a positive relationship between illness and missed work.
As incidence of illness increased, sick days taken also increased.
Famous quotes containing the words negative and/or relationship:
“Isolation in creative work is an onerous thing. Better to have negative criticism than nothing at all.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
“Sometimes in our relationship to another human being the proper balance of friendship is restored when we put a few grains of impropriety onto our own side of the scale.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)