Final answer:
The correct statement regarding the birth weight and weight gain rate of a newborn elephant and giraffe is C: The birth weight of the giraffe is 90 pounds less than the birth weight of the elephant. The other statements are false based on the equations given for the weight gain of each animal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to evaluate which statement is true regarding the birth weight and weight gain rate of a newborn elephant and giraffe as described by two given equations. The elephant's weight gain is described by the equation e = 62.5m + 250, and the giraffe's weight gain is described by the equation g = 50m + 160. In both equations, m represents the age in months, e represents the elephant's weight in pounds, and g represents the giraffe's weight in pounds.
- The birth weight of the elephant is the value of e when m is 0, which is 250 pounds.
- The birth weight of the giraffe is the value of g when m is 0, which is 160 pounds.
- The weight gain per month for the elephant is the coefficient of m in the elephant's equation, which is 62.5 pounds/month.
- The weight gain per month for the giraffe is the coefficient of m in the giraffe's equation, which is 50 pounds/month.
With this information, we can evaluate the statements:
- Statement C is true: The birth weight of the giraffe is 90 pounds less than the birth weight of the elephant (250 - 160 = 90).
- Statement A is false: The rate of weight gain for the giraffe (50 pounds/month) is not 10 to 15 pounds greater per month than the rate of weight gain for the elephant (62.5 pounds/month).
- Statement B is false: The elephant did not weigh five times as much at birth as the giraffe (250 is not five times greater than 160).
- Statement D is false: The elephant's weight gain rate is not 1 pound every 62.5 months, it's 62.5 pounds per month - and similarly, the giraffe's weight gain rate is not 1 pound every 50 months, it's 50 pounds per month.