Question

Foot size correlates positively with math skills. This is because younger children have tiny feet and do not know math. Correlation does not mean causation. Sometimes we make that error. What things may correlate, but not be causal?

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Answer 1

Correlation in simple terms means that two variables are correlated,that is if one variable goes up, so does the other and vice versa . Which doesn't necessarily mean one causes the other. The reason for this is that there are several things that can cause variables to correlate.

Just as given in the example of " Foot size correlates positively with math skills " here the cause maths skills is rather dependent of the age of person noy their footsize.

Simple examples of things which may correlate, but not be causal :

-Infering that holding up umbrellas causes rain.

-60% of the people who die in plane crashes own cars. Does owning a car cause plane crashes?