Final answer:
To estimate the lower and upper distance traveled by the runner during the first three seconds, add up the distances covered at each half-second interval up to three seconds. The correct answer is a) Lower estimate: 16.9 ft, Upper estimate: 24.2 ft.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate the lower and upper distance traveled by the runner during the first three seconds, we can look at the given table of the runner's speed at half-second intervals. We need to find the distance covered in the first three seconds, so we add up the distances covered at each half-second interval up to three seconds. From the given options, the correct answer is: a) Lower estimate: 16.9 ft, Upper estimate: 24.2 ft. This is because the lower estimate represents the minimum distance covered in the given time frame, while the upper estimate represents the maximum distance covered.