Question

Select the correct answer.
At one of New York’s traffic signals, if more than 17 cars are held up at the intersection, a traffic officer will intervene and direct the traffic. The hourly traffic pattern from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. mimics the random numbers generated between 5 and 25. (This holds true if there are no external factors such as accidents or car breakdowns.)

Scenario

Hour

Number of Cars Held
Up at Intersection

A

noon−1:00 p.m.

16

B

1:00−2:00 p.m.

24

C

2:00−3:00 p.m.

6

D

3:00−4:00 p.m.

21

E

4:00−5:00 p.m.

15

F

5:00−6:00 p.m.

24

G

6:00−7:00 p.m.

9

H

7:00−8:00 p.m.

9

I

8:00−9:00 p.m.

9


Based on the data in the table, what is the random variable in this scenario?

A.
the time interval between two red lights
B.
the number of traffic accidents that occur at the intersection
C.
the number of times a traffic officer monitors the signal
D.
the number of cars held up at the intersection
Reset Next
© 2025 Edmentum. All rights reserved.

Answer 1

D. the number of cars held up at the intersection

Explanation: A random variable represents the measurable outcome (here, the count of cars held up each hour), which matches the table's values.