An infectious disease lab has taken samples from several surfaces within an office building. The lab calculates the percentage of the surface area of the sample that is covered in bacteria. In four of the samples, the percentage of bacteria covering the surface was 0.13, 0.19, 0.22, and 0.25. Which gives the best estimate of the percentage of surfaces within the office building that are covered in bacteria?(1 point)

Question

Responses

3.16
3.16

0.26
0.26

0.20
0.20

0.79

Answer 1

To estimate the percentage of surfaces within the office building that are covered in bacteria based on the given data, we can calculate the average (mean) of the four samples.

The percentages given are:

• 0.13
• 0.19
• 0.22
• 0.25

Now, we add these percentages together:

\[ 0.13 + 0.19 + 0.22 + 0.25 = 0.79 \]

Next, we divide the total by the number of samples (4) to find the average:

\[ \text{Average} = \frac{0.79}{4} = 0.1975 \]

Now, rounding to two decimal places, we get approximately:

\[ 0.20 \]

Among the options provided, 0.20 gives the best estimate of the percentage of surfaces within the office building that are covered in bacteria.