To determine the appropriate intervals for the x-axis and y-axis of your graph, let's analyze the range and required intervals step-by-step.
### Step-by-step Solution:
#### 1. Calculate the Range of Years:
The data spans years from 1600 to 2000.
[tex]\[
\text{Year Range} = 2000 - 1600 = 400 \text{ years}
\][/tex]
#### 2. Calculate the Range of Recorded Extinctions:
The number of recorded extinctions ranges from 0 to 140.
[tex]\[
\text{Extinction Range} = 140 - 0 = 140
\][/tex]
#### 3. Determine an Initial Interval for the X-axis:
If we choose intervals of 10 years for the x-axis:
[tex]\[
\text{Number of intervals on the x-axis} = \frac{\text{Year Range}}{\text{Interval}} = \frac{400}{10} = 40
\][/tex]
#### 4. Evaluate the Appropriateness of an Interval of 10 Years for the X-axis:
Having 40 intervals on the x-axis would make the graph very stretched out and potentially cluttered, making it difficult to read and interpret. This high number of intervals would result in a very dense x-axis, where the labels and data points might overlap, reducing the clarity.
#### 5. Suggest a More Appropriate X-axis Interval:
To construct a clearer graph that is easier to read, a more appropriate interval should be used. Let's suggest using an interval of 50 years instead:
[tex]\[
\text{Number of intervals with 50-year gap} = \frac{\text{Year Range}}{50} = \frac{400}{50} = 8
\][/tex]
With 8 intervals on the x-axis, the graph will be more readable and the data points will be more evenly distributed across the axis.
### Summary:
- Year Range: 400 years
- Extinction Range: 140 recorded extinctions
- Unsuitable interval for x-axis: 10 years (results in 40 intervals)
- Suggested interval for x-axis: 50 years (results in 8 intervals)
Thus, you would not want to have the x-axis in intervals of 10 years because it would make the graph overly crowded with 40 intervals, making it difficult to read. An interval of 50 years is more suitable as it leads to 8 intervals on the x-axis, producing a clearer and more interpretable graph.
