Use the image to answer the question.

A coordinate plane's axes range from 0 to 14, both by 2-unit increments. The x-axis is labeled 'Time' with minute units, and the y-axis is labeled 'Distance' with mile units. A line is plotted with 3 different sections.

Which of the following descriptions best interprets the graph?

(1 point)
Responses

A car traveled at a constant speed of 1 mile per minute for a total of 10 miles.
A car traveled at a constant speed of 1 mile per minute for a total of 10 miles.

A car traveled at a speed of 1 mile per minute. After 5 minutes, the car stopped to wait for a train to cross, which took 5 minutes. Then the car continued to its destination.
A car traveled at a speed of 1 mile per minute. After 5 minutes, the car stopped to wait for a train to cross, which took 5 minutes. Then the car continued to its destination.

A car traveled for a total of 15 minutes. From minute 5 to minute 10, traffic slowed down the speed of the car.
A car traveled for a total of 15 minutes. From minute 5 to minute 10, traffic slowed down the speed of the car.

A car traveled at a speed of \(\frac{2}{3}\) mile per minute. In the middle of the trip, the car stopped for 5 minutes to wait for a train to cross.

1 answer

To accurately interpret the graph based on the provided descriptions, we need to analyze the movement shown in the graph, focusing on the segments that represent the car's journey over time:

  1. Constant Speed of 1 Mile per Minute for 10 Miles - This option suggests continuous travel without stops, which doesn’t match the graph as there are changes in distance over time.

  2. Speed of 1 Mile per Minute with a 5-Minute Stop - This indicates that the car traveled at a constant speed of 1 mile per minute for 5 minutes to cover 5 miles, then stopped for 5 minutes, and then continued. This could match the graph if there are two distinct parts showing travel and a stop.

  3. 15 Minutes of Travel with Traffic Slowdown - This description implies changes in speed due to traffic over a continuous 15-minute period. Depending on how the line on the graph is drawn, this might not accurately represent the segments.

  4. Speed of \(\frac{2}{3}\) Mile per Minute with a 5-Minute Stop - This option indicates a slower speed with a stop, which would need examination of distance covered over time to confirm accuracy.

Given this analysis, the most suitable description that aligns with a graph showing a car traveling and stopping, particularly if there's a clear segment representing a stop, is:

A car traveled at a speed of 1 mile per minute. After 5 minutes, the car stopped to wait for a train to cross, which took 5 minutes. Then the car continued to its destination.

This response accounts for an initial travel period, a pause for a specified duration, and a continuation of the journey, which is likely to represent the dynamics shown in the graph correctly.