Question

Five cores were removed from a new section of an asphalt highway, and the following percentages of air voids were obtained from laboratory analyses: 3.7%, 4.5%, 4.1%, 4.7%, and 3.9%. Past studies have suggested that the acceptable range for air voids in asphalt is between 3.5% and 5.0%. What can be concluded about the air void percentage in this new section of the asphalt highway based on the data collected? A) The air void percentage is within the acceptable range. B) The air void percentage is below the acceptable range. C) The air void percentage is above the acceptable range. D) The air void percentage is exactly at the upper limit of the acceptable range.

Answer 1

Based on the collected data, all measured air void percentages in the new section of the asphalt highway fall within the acceptable range of 3.5% to 5.0%, indicating that the asphalt meets the air void criteria.

Step-by-step explanation:

The data collected from the cores of the new section of an asphalt highway indicates that the percentages of air voids are 3.7%, 4.5%, 4.1%, 4.7%, and 3.9%. Given that the acceptable range for air voids in asphalt, based on past studies, is between 3.5% and 5.0%, we can analyze these percentages to determine if they fall within the acceptable range.

By looking at the individual percentages:

3.7% - within the range

4.5% - within the range

4.1% - within the range

4.7% - within the range

3.9% - within the range

All the measured percentages fall within the given acceptable range of 3.5% to 5.0%. Thus, the conclusion is that the asphalt meets the criteria for air void percentage.

The answer to the student's question is: A) The air void percentage is within the acceptable range.