Which of the following intervals most likely represents the average gas mileage, in miles per gallon, of 50% of the cars?

Rationale

24 to 32 miles per gallon represents the average gas mileage of 50% of the cars.

This interval likely captures the central tendency of gas mileage for a majority of vehicles, as it encompasses a reasonable range that reflects typical fuel efficiency in modern cars.

A (20 to 32) YOUR ANSWER

While this interval does include some lower mileage cars, it extends the range below 24 mpg, which may include outliers that do not represent the average of 50% of the cars. This broader range could misrepresent the typical gas mileage experienced by most vehicles.

B (24 to 32) CORRECT

This interval captures a more focused range that is likely to contain the average gas mileage for half of the cars, emphasizing a balance between low and high fuel efficiency, and accurately reflecting the typical performance of a significant portion of the vehicle population.

C (29 to 32) YOUR ANSWER

This interval is too narrow and focuses on higher mileage cars, potentially excluding a large segment of vehicles that operate below 29 mpg. As a result, it does not accurately represent the average gas mileage of 50% of the cars.

D (30 to 44) YOUR ANSWER

While this interval includes higher mileage cars, it also extends too far into the upper limit, including vehicles that may not represent the average gas mileage. The lower boundary of 30 mpg excludes many cars that consume fuel at lower rates, skewing the average.

E (32 to 44) YOUR ANSWER

This interval is too restrictive and only includes cars with high fuel efficiency. By starting at 32 mpg, it excludes a significant number of vehicles, thereby failing to represent the average gas mileage of 50% of the cars accurately.

Conclusion

The interval of 24 to 32 miles per gallon serves as a more accurate representation of the average gas mileage for half of the cars, effectively balancing various fuel efficiencies found in the automotive market. Other intervals either include outliers or focus too narrowly, thus failing to capture the true average of the broader vehicle population.