To determine the most appropriate scale for the y-axis of a graph depicting the amount of snowfall that an area receives in the winter, we need to carefully consider the various options provided.
#### Step 1: Analyze Each Scale
- Scale 1: -5 to 25 inches:
This scale ranges from -5 inches to 25 inches. Snowfall cannot be negative, so having -5 inches is not practical.
- Scale 2: 0 to 25 feet:
This scale ranges from 0 to 25 feet. Since 1 foot is equal to 12 inches, 25 feet converts to [tex]\( 25 \times 12 = 300 \)[/tex] inches. While this wide range could technically cover any imaginable snowfall, it is impractically large for most typical regions, making it not suitable for an average winter snowfall graph.
- Scale 3: 0 to 60 inches:
This scale ranges from 0 to 60 inches. This is a practical range for most areas, as it covers both moderate and heavy snowfall amounts without unnecessary extremes.
- Scale 4: -100 to 100 inches:
This scale ranges from -100 to 100 inches. Like the first scale, negative values are not useful for the measurement of snowfall. Additionally, 100 inches is quite an extreme upper limit and is less practical for most locales.
#### Step 2: Determine the Most Appropriate Scale
Given the above considerations, we must choose a scale that accurately and practically reflects typical snowfall without undue extremes:
- Scale 3: 0 to 60 inches is the most appropriate scale. It starts from 0, ensuring no negative values, and its upper limit of 60 inches comfortably accommodates a wide variety of snowfall amounts without being overly broad or too narrow.
Therefore, the most appropriate scale for the y-axis of a graph of the amount of snowfall that an area receives in the winter is:
0 to 60 inches.
