Question

the stack plot uses stacked horizontal bars to show the breakdown of average student budgets at different types of institutions. use the data in the graph to complete parts (a) through (c) below.

click the icon to view the graph.

a. which cost category varies the least among the different types of colleges? can you explain why this category varies so little?

a. transportation varies the least because students at all types of colleges have the same mode of transportation.
b. tuition and fees varies the least because the operational costs for all types of colleges are the same.
c. other expenses vary the least because all college students have same general expenses at all types of colleges.
d. books and supplies varies the least because students at all types of colleges need approximately the same number of books and supplies and these dont vary much in cost.
e. room and board varies the least because it costs all types of colleges the same amount of money to have a student live on campus.

Explanation:

Identify the question goal

The question asks which cost category varies the least among different types of colleges and requests a logical explanation for why that category remains relatively constant.

Analyze the options

Using the Graph Interpretation knowledge point, we evaluate the real-world behavior of college student budget categories:

• Tuition and fees vary dramatically between public two-year, public four-year, and private four-year institutions.
• Room and board varies significantly depending on whether a student lives at home, in a dorm, or off-campus.
• Books and supplies represent physical goods (textbooks, notebooks, software) required by almost all college students regardless of the institution type they attend. The cost of these materials is determined by publishers and retailers rather than the college type, meaning students at all types of colleges need approximately the same number of books and supplies, which do not vary much in cost.

Select the correct option

Option D correctly identifies "Books and supplies" as the category that varies the least and provides the most logical explanation: students at all types of colleges need approximately the same materials, and their market prices are relatively stable across different institutions.

Answer:

• A. Transportation varies the least because students at all types of colleges have the same mode of transportation.
• B. Tuition and fees varies the least because the operational costs for all types of colleges are the same.
• C. Other expenses vary the least because all college students have same general expenses at all types of colleges.
• D. Books and supplies varies the least because students at all types of colleges need approximately the same number of books and supplies and these don't vary much in cost. (Correct answer)
• E. Room and board varies the least because it costs all types of colleges the same amount of money to have a student live on campus.