A hiker recorded her elevation y, in meters above sea level... | SAT Two-variable data: models and scatterplots Question, Answer Explained

Question bank / Two-variable data: models and scatterplots

Math · Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisHard

A hiker recorded her elevation $y$ , in meters above sea level, at several times $x$ , in minutes, after she started up a trail. The line of best fit for the data is $y = 4.5x + 320$ . Based on the line of best fit, what is the predicted increase in the hiker's elevation, in meters, for each hour of hiking?

$0.075$

$4.5$

$270$

$590$

Show answer and explanation

Answer: C

The slope, $4.5$ , is the predicted increase in elevation, in meters, for each minute. An hour has $60$ minutes, so the predicted increase per hour is $4.5 \times 60 = 270$ meters.

Choice B is the increase per minute; the question asks about each hour, and $x$ is measured in minutes.

Why the other choices are wrong

A. This divides 4.5 by 60. The slope is per minute, so multiply by 60 to get the increase per hour.
B. 4.5 is the predicted increase per minute, not per hour.
D. This is the predicted elevation after 60 minutes, which includes the starting elevation of 320 meters.

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