Question

A crop scientist is conducting research with a drought resistant corn hybrid. She is interested in determining if using fertilizer X will increase plant height. She prepares 20 single acre plots and randomly assigns 10 to have normal soil while the other 10 are planted with fertilizer X. The resulting average height for each group of 10 plots was recorded. Select all that apply.

a. This is best described as an observational study.
b. The response variable is whether or not fertilizer X was used.
c. The explanatory variable is the average height for each group of 10 plots
d. This study is best described as an experiment.
e. The explanatory variable is whether or not fertilizer X was used.
f. The response variable is the average height for each group of 10 plots

Answer 1

Answer: d. This study is best described as an experiment.

e. The explanatory variable is whether or not fertilizer X was used.

f. The response variable is the average height for each group of 10 plots.

Explanation:

Given : A crop scientist is conducting research with a drought resistant corn hybrid.

She is interested in determining if using fertilizer X will increase plant height.

She prepares 20 single acre plots and randomly assigns 10 to have normal soil while the other 10 are planted with fertilizer X.

This study is best describe as an experiment because the scientist is experimenting about the increase in plant height with an generation of 20 single acre plots not like an observational study where the observer just observe the study without any influence.

Here the fertilizer is used to see the change in the plant height.

So, the explanatory variable is whether or not fertilizer X was used and the response variable is the average height for each group of 10 plots.