Answer :
Final answer:
The first quartile (Q1) for car speeds in a 55 mph zone being 57 mph means that 25% of the cars are traveling below 57 mph. This signifies that the majority of cars are exceeding the posted speed limit. So the correct option is a.
Explanation:
In statistics, the first quartile (Q1), also known as the lower quartile, is the value that marks the 25th percentile of a data set. This means that 25% of the data falls below this value, and 75% falls above it. If the first quartile for car speeds in a 55 mph zone is 57 mph, it interprets that 25% of the cars are traveling at speeds below 57 mph.
It suggests that a majority of the drivers are exceeding the speed limit since only a quarter of the cars are traveling at or below 57 mph, a speed already above the speed limit. Option (a) correctly describes the meaning of the first quartile in this context. Thus, it is accurate to state that 25% of the cars are traveling below 57 mph.