A characteristic that always distinguishes an empirical from a theoretical curve is
A) the smoothness of the curve or line that connects the points
B) how the points on the curve were obtained
C) whether the curve actually crosses the X axis or not
D) all of the other alternatives are correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Empirical curves are based on observed data, while theoretical curves are based on a hypothesis or theory. The method of obtaining the points (observed data vs. theoretical predictions) is what distinguishes an empirical curve from a theoretical one.

A Characteristic That Always Distinguishes an Empirical from a Theoretical