Final answer:
Answer b) is correct. The green-white color scale conditional formatting highlights the highest investment values in green, allowing for easy comparison in a spreadsheet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question, 'In the range I4:I9, apply the green-white color scale conditional formatting rule to compare the investment values and highlight the highest ones,' is b) This rule compares values and highlights the highest investment values with a green color. When using a green-white color scale in a spreadsheet, the values closer to the highest end of the scale are highlighted in green, while values closer to the lower end are in shades approaching white. This is a visual representation that allows one to quickly assess which values are higher relative to others within that range.
In practice, conditional formatting with color scales is a tool used extensively in data analysis to enhance visual comprehension of data sets. By applying such formatting, it becomes easier for users, including students and professionals, to identify patterns, trends, and outliers within the data. Applying this rule to a range of cells allows immediate identification of which investments are performing better in a visual, intuitive manner.