Let's carefully analyze the statements given by the students to determine if any of them made a mistake.
- Irma: Stated that she used a ruler to measure the radius and then used an equation to calculate the volume, which she reported as [tex]\(104 \, cm^3\)[/tex].
- Julia: Stated that she used a scale to measure the mass, which she reported as [tex]\(0.6 \, lb\)[/tex].
- Grace: Stated that she used a scale to measure the weight, which she reported as [tex]\(0.28 \, lb\)[/tex].
- Masha: Stated that she used a bucket of water (and presumably the water displacement method) and a ruler to find the volume, which she reported as [tex]\(98 \, cm^3\)[/tex].
From Irma’s and Masha’s statements, we have two different measurements of the volume of the tennis ball:
- Irma: [tex]\(104 \, cm^3\)[/tex]
- Masha: [tex]\(98 \, cm^3\)[/tex]
There is a difference between these two volume measurements. Let's find the volume difference:
[tex]\[
104 \, cm^3 - 98 \, cm^3 = 6 \, cm^3
\][/tex]
This 6 cubic centimeters difference in the measured volumes, based on the two methods used by Irma and Masha, indicates a discrepancy. Such a discrepancy could suggest that one of the volume measurements might be incorrect since these two measurements should ideally be very close if both methods were performed accurately.
Given the significant difference, it's possible that Irma or Masha made a mistake in their respective volume measurement statements. Since the problem specifically asks which student made a mistake and we see a clear difference in volume calculations, we can conclude:
Irma or Masha made a mistake in their volume measurement.
Since the question doesn't provide further details to choose between Irma and Masha, but given the context of typical lab measurement accuracies, the most likely suspect could be an error in one specific method's application or calculation.
Irma is highlighted as the student with a potentially incorrect volume statement because there might be higher potential for error in using an equation based on radius measurements compared to water displacement methods, which often provide more direct and accurate volume readings.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
Irma made a mistake in her statement.
