Question

the scatter plot below shows the average traffic volume and average vehicle speed on a certain freeway for 50 days in 1999. which statement best describes the relationship between average traffic volume and average vehicle speed shown on the scatter plot? a. as traffic volume increases, vehicle speed increases. b. as traffic volume increases, vehicle speed decreases. c. as traffic volume increases, vehicle speed increases at first, then decreases. d. as traffic volume increases, vehicle speed decreases at first, then increases.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the scatter - plot trend

In a scatter - plot, if we move from left to right (increasing average traffic volume), we observe the direction of the points.
As we move from left (lower traffic volume) to right (higher traffic volume) on the x - axis (average traffic volume), the points on the y - axis (average vehicle speed) are going down.

Step2: Match with the options

Option A says speed increases with traffic volume, which is wrong as per the scatter - plot.
Option C says speed first increases then decreases, but the overall trend is decreasing.
Option D says speed first decreases then increases, which is not the case.
Option B: As traffic volume (x - axis) increases, vehicle speed (y - axis) decreases, which matches the downward - sloping trend of the scatter - plot.

Answer:

B. As traffic volume increases, vehicle speed decreases.