Final answer:
An increase in gas prices leading to fewer travelers on the highway is an example of a negative correlation, where two variables move in opposite directions.
Step-by-step explanation:
As gas prices increase and we see a decline in the number of travelers on the highway, this is an example of a negative correlation. A negative correlation indicates that as one variable increases, like gas prices, the other variable, in this case, the number of highway travelers, decreases. If the situation were reversed, with gas prices decreasing and the number of travelers increasing, it would still be considered a negative correlation because the two variables are moving in opposite directions.
Correlation coefficients, which can range from -1 to 1, measure the strength and direction of this relationship. A correlation coefficient close to -1 suggests a strong negative correlation. Conversely, a value close to 0 indicates a weak relationship and a value close to 1 indicates a strong positive correlation.