Question

analyzing an experiment

according to the graph, the pansies in which treatment group grew about 0.2 cm between weeks 2 and 3?

how much did the pansies receiving slow-release fertilizer grow from week 1 to 3?

which of the following sentences best describes what happened to the pansies receiving liquid fertilizer?

• they grew more during week 1 than any other week.
• they grew the most between weeks 1 and 3.
• they grew the least between weeks 3 and 4.
• their average growth rate was the same for all 4 weeks.

Explanation:

Analyze the height of liquid fertilizer group

The liquid fertilizer group is represented by the blue bars. Let's estimate the heights for each week:

• Week 1: \(3.1\text{ cm}\)
• Week 2: \(3.3\text{ cm}\)
• Week 3: \(3.7\text{ cm}\)
• Week 4: \(4.5\text{ cm}\)

Calculate weekly growth increments

Let's find the growth during each interval:

• Week 1 growth (from baseline 0 to Week 1): \(3.1\text{ cm}\)
• Between weeks 1 and 2: \(3.3 - 3.1 = 0.2\text{ cm}\)
• Between weeks 2 and 3: \(3.7 - 3.3 = 0.4\text{ cm}\)
• Between weeks 3 and 4: \(4.5 - 3.7 = 0.8\text{ cm}\)

Evaluate the given options

• "They grew more during week 1 than any other week": During week 1, they grew from \(0\text{ cm}\) to \(3.1\text{ cm}\) (an increment of \(3.1\text{ cm}\)), which is larger than any subsequent weekly growth increment (\(0.2\text{ cm}\), \(0.4\text{ cm}\), or \(0.8\text{ cm}\)). This statement is correct.
• "They grew the most between weeks 1 and 3": Growth between weeks 1 and 3 is \(3.7 - 3.1 = 0.6\text{ cm}\), which is less than the growth between weeks 3 and 4 (\(0.8\text{ cm}\)).
• "They grew the least between weeks 3 and 4": They grew the most during this period (\(0.8\text{ cm}\)).
• "Their average growth rate was the same for all 4 weeks": The growth increments vary significantly each week.

Answer:

• They grew more during week 1 than any other week. (Correct answer)
• They grew the most between weeks 1 and 3.
• They grew the least between weeks 3 and 4.
• Their average growth rate was the same for all 4 weeks.