William is in the middle of swimming in a ten-mile race. He swims at a steady speed, and then slows down, stops to eat, swims faster to get back in the race, and returns to a steady speed. He later stops for water, and then again swims faster to get back in the race. Which graph best represents the situation?
Answer
A
Image with description On a first quadrant graph, the horizontal axis is labeled time and the vertical axis is labeled speed. From left to right, the graph begins about 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 2 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 3 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 4 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 5 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 6 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 8 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, and ends at a point that that is nine tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and is 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis.
B
Image with description On a first quadrant graph, the horizontal axis is labeled time and the vertical axis is labeled speed. From left to right, the graph begins about 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 2 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 3 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 4 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 5 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 7 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 8 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, and ends at a point that that is 9 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis.
C
Image with description On a first quadrant graph, the horizontal axis is labeled time and the vertical axis is labeled speed. From left to right, the graph begins about 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 2 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 3 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 4 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 5 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 7 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 8 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 9 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, and ends at a point that that is at the end of the horizontal axis and is 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis.
D
Image with description On a first quadrant graph, the horizontal axis is labeled time and the vertical axis is labeled speed. From left to right, the graph begins about 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 2 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, moves to a point that is 4 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 5 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis, moves to a point that is 6 tenths of the way across the horizontal axis and 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis, and ends at a point that that is at the end of the horizontal axis and is 3 fifths of the way up the vertical axis.
Explanation
On a speed-versus-time graph, steady swimming appears as a horizontal segment, slowing down as a downward segment, and stopping as a segment at zero speed. After each stop, the graph should rise as William speeds up, then become horizontal again at his steady speed. Choice C shows this pattern twice, with steady-speed sections between and after the stops; the other choices do not show both cycles as clearly.
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