A newborn kitten weighs 3 ounces at birth. After four weeks, it weighs 13 ounces. Which of the following is true?

Question

A.
The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the kitten does not weigh zero ounces at birth.
B.
The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the weight of the kitten increases by 2.5 ounces every week.
C.
The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the weight of the kitten increases over time.
D.
The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the difference in the weight of the kitten after four weeks is 10 ounces.

Answer 1

To determine which of the statements is true regarding the relationship between the kitten's age and weight, we need to consider what it means for two quantities to be in a proportional relationship.

A proportional relationship means that the ratio of the two quantities is constant. In this case, we can look at the weight of the kitten over the period of weeks.

At birth (0 weeks), the kitten's weight is 3 ounces. After 4 weeks, the kitten weighs 13 ounces. We can find the weight increase:

• The initial weight (at 0 weeks) = 3 ounces
• The weight at 4 weeks = 13 ounces
• The increase in weight after 4 weeks = 13 ounces - 3 ounces = 10 ounces

To check for proportionality, we can check if the weight-to-age ratio is constant:

• At 0 weeks: 3 ounces / 0 weeks = undefined (we can't use 0 for division)
• At 4 weeks: 13 ounces / 4 weeks = 3.25 ounces/week

Next, we can analyze the options provided:

A. The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the kitten does not weigh zero ounces at birth.

• This statement is misleading. The lack of a zero point doesn't necessarily mean there's no proportional relationship.

B. The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the weight of the kitten increases by 2.5 ounces every week.

• This is incorrect. The kitten's weight doesn't increase uniformly by 2.5 ounces each week; it increases from 3 ounces to 13 ounces over 4 weeks, which averages to about 2.5 ounces/week but isn't consistent.

C. The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the weight of the kitten increases over time.

• This statement is more about the nature of growth rather than a definition of proportionality.

D. The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the difference in the weight of the kitten after four weeks is 10 ounces.

• This is accurate; the increase of 10 ounces does not indicate a constant ratio, which is a necessity for proportionality.

Based on the above analysis, the correct answer is:

D. The kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the difference in the weight of the kitten after four weeks is 10 ounces.

Answer 2

nope A was correct

Answer 3

I apologize for any confusion in my previous response. Let’s clarify:

While option A states that the kitten's age and weight are not in a proportional relationship because the kitten does not weigh zero ounces at birth, it highlights one aspect of proportionality. Proportional relationships typically require both quantities to be able to go through a direct origin (zero point), meaning if one value is zero, the other must also be zero to maintain a consistent ratio.

The fact that the kitten weighs 3 ounces at birth rather than zero indicates that the relationship is not directly proportional in the mathematical sense, as you correctly pointed out.

Thank you for your patience, and you're right that option A correctly identifies that the lack of a zero weight at birth affects the proportionality of the relationship.