Final answer:
The total change in the number of people on the bus after the recorded stops is -15.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alice's recorded changes in the number of people on the bus at each stop provide insight into the fluctuating passenger count during the journey. The recorded values, -4, +2, -5, +3, -11, indicate gains and losses at different stops. Negative values represent a decrease in the number of people, while positive values indicate an increase.
Adding up these changes (-4 + 2 - 5 + 3 - 11), the total change in the number of people on the bus after all the stops is -15. The negative sign signifies an overall reduction in passenger count. This net change of -15 implies that, collectively, there were more people disembarking or getting off the bus than there were new passengers boarding or getting on during the recorded stops.
Such tracking of changes is valuable for analyzing trends in passenger dynamics during a bus journey. It helps in understanding the cumulative effect of stops on the bus's occupancy, providing useful insights for optimizing routes, managing capacity, and enhancing the overall efficiency of public transportation services. In this specific scenario, the negative total change suggests a decreasing trend in the number of passengers over the recorded stops.