Question

b. when there is a low nitrate concentration, which has a higher relative frequency, healthy or unhealthy coral? c. when there is a high nitrate concentration, is there a higher relative frequency of healthy or unhealthy coral? d. considering this data, is there a possible association between coral health and the level of nitrate concentration? explain your reasoning. e. the scientists next look at how silicon dioxide concentration might be related to coral health. the relative frequencies calculating using the total for each column are shown in the table. considering this data, is there a possible association between coral health and the level of silicon dioxide concentration? explain your reasoning.

Explanation:

For part e, we look at the relative frequencies. When the silicon dioxide concentration is low, the relative frequency of unhealthy coral is \(56\%\) and healthy is \(44\%\). When it is high, unhealthy is \(54\%\) and healthy is \(46\%\). The differences between the relative frequencies of healthy and unhealthy coral for low and high silicon dioxide concentrations (\(56 - 44=12\) and \(54 - 46 = 8\)) are relatively small.

Answer:

There does not seem to be a strong possible association between coral health and the level of silicon dioxide concentration. The relative frequencies of healthy and unhealthy coral for low and high silicon dioxide concentrations are not vastly different. For example, the difference between unhealthy and healthy at low concentration is \(12\) percentage points (\(56\%-44\%\)) and at high concentration is \(8\) percentage points (\(54\%-46\%\)). These differences are not large enough to suggest a clear - cut association.