Question

Meg used this table to track the average attendance from month to month at her theater for five months.

A 5-column table with 1 row is titled Percent Increase and Decrease. Column 1 is labeled October with entry negative 1. Column 2 is labeled November with entry 0.5. Column 3 is labeled December with entry negative 0.9. Column 4 is labeled January with entries three-fourths. Column 5 is labeled February with entry one-half. A number line going from negative 1 to positive 1 in increments of 0.25.

Graph the numbers on the number line. Choose the inequality symbol that makes each comparison true.

Nov.__Feb.
Oct.__Dec.
Jan__Nov.

Answer 1

Let's start by summarizing the average attendance changes (percent increases or decreases) for each month based on the entries in the table:

- **October:** -1 (a decrease of 1%)
- **November:** 0.5 (an increase of 0.5%)
- **December:** -0.9 (a decrease of 0.9%)
- **January:** 0.75 (an increase of 0.75%)
- **February:** 0.5 (an increase of 0.5%)

Next, we will plot these percentages on a number line that goes from -1 to +1:

- **October:** located at -1
- **November:** located at 0.5
- **December:** located at -0.9
- **January:** located at 0.75
- **February:** located at 0.5

Now, let's compare the months according to the requested inequalities:

1. **November vs. February:**
- November (0.5) **is equal to** February (0.5).
- The inequality is **Nov. = Feb.**

2. **October vs. December:**
- October (-1) **is less than** December (-0.9).
- The inequality is **Oct. < Dec.**

3. **January vs. November:**
- January (0.75) **is greater than** November (0.5).
- The inequality is **Jan. > Nov.**

Combining these, we have:
- Nov. = Feb.
- Oct. < Dec.
- Jan. > Nov.