Question

predict the winning time in year 11 of the race. 1.37 minutes 1.63 minutes 2.45 minutes

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the trend

Looking at the scatter - plot, the winning time is decreasing as the year increases. The values of winning time are approximately \(5.4\) (year \(1\)), \(5\) (year \(2\)), \(4.6\) (year \(3\)), \(4.9\) (year \(4\)), \(4\) (year \(5\)), \(3.8\) (year \(6\)), \(3.5\) (year \(7\)), \(3.2\) (year \(8\)). The rate of decrease is not perfectly linear, but we can assume a rough linear trend for prediction.

Step2: Extend the trend

If we consider the general downward trend, from year \(8\) (winning time \(3.2\)) to year \(11\), if we assume a continued decrease. But if we consider the options, and the fact that the values are decreasing and the options given:

• Option \(1.37\) and \(1.63\) are much lower than the previous values' rate of decrease.
• Option \(2.45\) is a more reasonable prediction considering the previous rate of decrease (for example, if we assume a decrease of about \(0.3 - 0.5\) per year from year \(8\) onwards in a very rough sense).

Answer:

2.45 minutes