The table shows estimates of herbaceous forage production in tons on

Official Solution:

Statement 1:

Sort the table by Forbs production. Going through the data, we can easily notice that the year when forbs represented the largest percentage of herbaceous forage was 2008, with 3,272 tons, which was approximately 20%. All other years have a lower percentage. The 3,272 tons of forbs is approximately 50% more than the average of 2,126 for forbs. Therefore, this statement is True.

Statement 2:

The median value for 15 years is the 8th largest value. Sorting the table by Grass, Forb, and Weed production, we find that the medians were 12,757 tons, 1,924 tons, and 65 tons, respectively. Meanwhile, the averages for Grass, Forb, and Weed were 12,156 tons (less than the median), 2,126 tons (greater than the median), and 106 tons (greater than the median), respectively. Therefore, this statement is False.

Statement 3:

Two data sets are positively correlated if they both tend to be higher in the same cases. They are negatively correlated if one tends to be higher in cases where the other is lower. For positively correlated data, their lines tend to slope up or down together; the more consistently this happens, the stronger the positive correlation. Conversely, when two data sets are negatively correlated, the line for one tends to slope up while the other slopes down, and vice versa. The more consistently these opposite slopes occur, the stronger the negative correlation.

Examining Grass production and Total Herbaceous Forage production over the years, we observe that in most cases, when one increases, the other also increases. This indicates that, if anything, these data are positively correlated. Therefore, this statement is False.


Correct answer:

Forbs production in the year when forbs represented the largest percentage of herbaceous forage was more than 30% higher than the average forbs production. "True"

The median production value for each of Grass, Forb, and Weed was greater than the corresponding average production. "False"

The table shows a negative correlation between Grass production and Total Herbaceous Forage production over the years. "False"