Question

task #27: cause and effect?
each statement below shows a correlation between two quantities. decide whether the situation illustrates a causal relationship. explain your reasoning for your answer. if there is a causal relationship, rewrite the statement as an \if _, then _.\ statement.

1. the number of miles driven and the amount of gasoline used

1. the number of homework assignments completed and the final grade in the class

1. the number of years an adult spent in school and his/her salary

1. the number of licensed drivers in a family and the number of cars owned

1. the number of excess calories consumed and the amount of weight gained

Explanation:

1. the number of miles driven and the amount of gasoline used

Driving more miles (cause) uses more gasoline (effect) as cars consume gas to move. So it's causal. Rewrite: If the number of miles driven increases, then the amount of gasoline used increases.

Completing more homework (cause) typically improves understanding, leading to a better final grade (effect). So it's causal. Rewrite: If the number of homework assignments completed increases, then the final grade in the class (tends to) increase.

More school years (cause) often mean more education/skills, leading to higher salary (effect) due to better job opportunities. So it's causal (though other factors exist, the correlation has a causal component). Rewrite: If the number of years an adult spent in school increases, then his/her salary (tends to) increase.

Answer:

Causal relationship. If the number of miles driven (increases), then the amount of gasoline used (increases). (Reason: Driving more miles requires more gasoline consumption as cars need fuel to operate.)

2. the number of homework assignments completed and the final grade in the class