Question

A snowstorm took place during the weekend. Meteorologists tracked the total amount of snowfall for the storm. For the first 2 hours, it snowed at a rate of 1 inch per hour. The snow stopped for an hour and a half, then resumed at a rate of 1.5 inches per hour for the next 3 hours. Based on this information, what scale would work best for representing the data on the y-axis?

Answer 1

To determine the best scale for representing the total amount of snowfall on the y-axis, we first need to calculate the total snowfall from the given data.

1. First 2 hours:

   • Snowfall rate: 1 inch/hour
   • Total snowfall for this period: \(2 \text{ hours} \times 1 \text{ inch/hour} = 2 \text{ inches}\)

2. Next 1.5 hours:

   • No snowfall occurred during this time: 0 inches.

3. Next 3 hours:

   • Snowfall rate: 1.5 inches/hour
   • Total snowfall for this period: \(3 \text{ hours} \times 1.5 \text{ inches/hour} = 4.5 \text{ inches}\)

Now, we can calculate the total snowfall:

• Total snowfall = Snowfall from the first period + Snowfall from the second period + Snowfall from the third period
• Total snowfall = \(2 \text{ inches} + 0 \text{ inches} + 4.5 \text{ inches} = 6.5 \text{ inches}\)

Now that we know the total snowfall is 6.5 inches, we can choose a scale for the y-axis. A good scale should allow for easy visualization of the data and a clear representation of the snowfall amounts.

Suggested scale for the y-axis:

• Since the total snowfall is 6.5 inches, a scale that increments by 1 inch might work well. For example, a y-axis that ranges from 0 to 10 inches, with tick marks at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 inches would allow for enough space to clearly show the total snowfall.

This scale will effectively display the range of snowfall amounts and provide a clear context for understanding the data from the snowstorm.