Use the scenario to answer the question.

Question

Devin had a bucket of shredded metals. The metals consist of aluminum, steel, and copper. He tried sorting the mixture by running it through a filter, but this did not sort the mixture into separate components.

Which of the following can Devin conclude? Select the two correct answers. 

(1 point)
Responses

Filters cannot be used to sort metals.
Filters cannot be used to sort metals.

The filter was too large, and he needs a smaller mesh filter. 
The filter was too large, and he needs a smaller mesh filter. 

The metals in the mixture have all been shredded to similar sizes. 
The metals in the mixture have all been shredded to similar sizes. 

Filters can only be used to sort metals from nonmetals. 
Filters can only be used to sort metals from nonmetals. 

Filters should be used to sort by size.

Answer 1

Based on the scenario, Devin can conclude:

1. The metals in the mixture have all been shredded to similar sizes. - This conclusion can be drawn because the filter did not sort the mixture, suggesting that the pieces of metal are too similar in size for the filter to differentiate between them.

2. Filters should be used to sort by size. - This implies that filters can indeed be effective for sorting when the sizes of the components in the mixture are different. Since the filter did not work here, it suggests that the sorting mechanism (which relies on size differences) was ineffective due to the similarity in sizes.

So the two correct conclusions are:

• The metals in the mixture have all been shredded to similar sizes.
• Filters should be used to sort by size.