Final answer:
Appropriate situations for using a sample include estimating the preferences of pick-up truck drivers, pedestrian usage of a proposed walkway, and the popularity of car color among teachers. Sampling is practical when the population is large, and representative samples can provide useful data for decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is appropriate to use a sample in various situations, particularly when the population is too large and it is not feasible or practical to collect data from every member. Samples can provide estimates that are good approximations of the population, assuming the sample is representative and the size is adequate for the study.
- What percentage of pick-up truck drivers want their next vehicle purchase to be another pick-up truck?
- How many pedestrians would use a walkway built over a busy road?
- What is the most popular car color in the teachers’ parking lot?
In these scenarios, sampling is the most efficient method due to the impracticality of surveying the entire population of interest. As for questions like whether the speed limit should be decreased or how many police cars are equipped with computers, these may require more comprehensive approaches or data from specific agencies rather than public opinion or observation.
For questions pertaining to car speed and safety regulations, such as "Do cars travel at the correct speed limit?" or "Is it safe to cross the road outside of a pedestrian crossing?", surveys and studies using a representative sample can provide insights into public behavior and attitudes, which can inform policymaking decisions.