To determine the best scale for representing the snowfall data on the y-axis, let's first calculate the total snowfall throughout the duration of the storm.
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For the first 2 hours, it snowed at a rate of 1 inch per hour: \[ 2 \text{ hours} \times 1 \text{ inch/hour} = 2 \text{ inches} \]
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Then, it stopped snowing for 1.5 hours, which contributes 0 inches to the total.
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After that, it resumed snowing at a rate of 1.5 inches per hour for the next 3 hours: \[ 3 \text{ hours} \times 1.5 \text{ inches/hour} = 4.5 \text{ inches} \]
Now, we add the total snowfall: \[ 2 \text{ inches} + 0 \text{ inches} + 4.5 \text{ inches} = 6.5 \text{ inches} \]
Given this total of 6.5 inches of snowfall, we should choose a scale that accommodates this total and provides a clear representation of the data.
- The options provided are: 0.5, 2, 5, and 3.
The option with the largest scale that is still manageable would be 5. This scale will allow us to capture the total snowfall output (6.5 inches) while still providing a clear visual representation of the intervals for the snowfall data. Therefore, the best scale for representing the data on the y-axis is:
5