Question

A snowstorm took place during the weekend. Meteorologists tracked the total amount of snowfall for the storm. For the first 2 hours, it snowed at a rate of 1 inch per hour. The snow stopped for an hour and a half, then resumed at a rate of 1.5 inches per hour for the next 3 hours. Based on this information, what scale would work best for representing the data on the y-axis?(1 point)
Responses

2
2

3
3

5
5

0.5
0.5
Skip to navigation

Item
1
, Unattempted.
Item
2
, Unattempted.
Item
3
, Unattempted.
Item
4
, Unattempted.
Item
5
, Unattempted.
Item
6
, Unattempted.
Item
7
, Unattempted.
Item
8
, Unattempted.
Item
9
, Unattempted.
Item
10
, Unattempted.
Item
11
, Unattempted.
Item
12
, Unattempted.
Item
13
, Unattempted.
Item
14
, Unattempted.
Item
15
, Unattempted.
Item
16
, Unattempted.
Item
17
, Unattempted.
Item
18
, Unattempted.
Item
19
, Unattempted.
Item
20
, Unattempted.
Item
21
, Unattempted.
Item
22
, Unattempted.
Item
23
, Unattempted.

1 answer

To determine the best scale for representing the total snowfall data on the y-axis, we first need to calculate the total snowfall from the given information:

  1. First 2 hours:

    • Snowfall rate: 1 inch/hour
    • Total snowfall: \( 2 , \text{hours} \times 1 , \text{inch/hour} = 2 , \text{inches} \)
  2. Next 1.5 hours:

    • Snow stopped, so snowfall during this time: 0 inches
  3. Next 3 hours:

    • Snowfall rate: 1.5 inches/hour
    • Total snowfall: \( 3 , \text{hours} \times 1.5 , \text{inches/hour} = 4.5 , \text{inches} \)

Now, adding up the total snowfall from all the intervals:

  • Total snowfall = \( 2 , \text{inches} + 0 , \text{inches} + 4.5 , \text{inches} = 6.5 , \text{inches} \)

Given that the maximum snowfall is 6.5 inches, it would be logical to select a scale that accommodates this total clearly.

Scale Options:

  • 2: This scale would only go from 0 to 2, which is insufficient.
  • 3: This scale would go from 0 to 3, which also is insufficient.
  • 5: This scale would go from 0 to 5, still insufficient for the maximum of 6.5 inches.
  • 0.5: This scale would go from 0 in increments of 0.5 inches, which would allow for a more granular representation, going up to higher values but would be broader than necessary.

Given that the maximum snowfall observed is 6.5 inches, while none of the options provide a perfect fit, option 5 would be the most reasonable, as it will allow a simple scale up to 5 inches. If only considering the list provided, the option might be to represent it up to the maximum possible value given.

Thus, the best choice from the provided options would be:

5