Final answer:
To find the lower bound of the difference between Violet and Willfred's times, subtract the upper bound of Violet's time from the lower bound of Willfred's time. The lower bound of the difference is 0.5 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the lower bound of the difference between Violet and Willfred's times, we need to subtract the upper bound of Violet's time from the lower bound of Willfred's time. Violet's time is 36 seconds, which is an exact measurement. Willfred's time is given as 39 seconds, correct to the nearest second. The lower bound of Willfred's time is 38.5 seconds, because if it was rounded down to 38 seconds, it would be closer to 37 seconds, and if it was rounded up to 40 seconds, it would be closer to 41 seconds.
Therefore, the lower bound of the difference between their times is $(39 - 38.5) = 0.5$ seconds. So, the lower bound of the difference between Violet's and Willfred's times is 0.5 seconds.