Final answer:
The correct choice is b, which provides the time and distance parameters needed to calculate average speed, though real-life driving often involves speed fluctuations.
Step-by-step explanation:
To deduce if someone was driving too fast based on the information given, we'd need to know certain variables. The correct variables would allow us to calculate the average speed and ascertain whether it was likely above the speed limit. The best variables to make this deduction would be how long it took to get home and how far they traveled, which corresponds to option b. Only with time and distance can we calculate speed using the formula speed = distance / time.
Considering the scenario where someone left upset from a party and was driving with caution due to the possibility of police presence, the person's emotions and the threat of law enforcement can alter their typical driving behavior. A common assumption is that the driver would travel at a constant rate, but as explained, the rate can fluctuate. In the detailed examples given, fluctuating speeds due to police interference or different stages of a commute affect the overall travel time. The average speed is in question; this can be misleading if analyzed without considering varying speeds throughout the trip.
If we can confirm the distance covered and the time taken, and we assume constant speed, we can provide a basic assessment of whether the speed limit was likely exceeded. But as the provided information shows, real-life driving habits often involve changes in speed, making this calculation only a rough estimate in many scenarios.