The correlation coefficient, r, between the ages of employees, x, and the number of sick days taken per year, y, equals 0.81. Complete the statement based on the information provided.

The value of r is
✔ positive
and is relatively close to
✔ 1
, so the variables are
✔ closely
associated. It appears that, as the age of an employee increases, the number of sick days taken
✔ increases
.