Q35. - Algebra 2

Question

For Exercises 33-35, use the table that shows the total number of deaths due to severe weather.

 

35. What type of severe weather accounted for most deaths each year?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Severe weather that accounted for most deaths each year are: 1996 – Floods, 1997 – Floods, 1998 – Floods, 1999 – Tornadoes and 2000 – Lightning.

Step 1 - Define the concept of organizing data in matrix

A matrix is a rectangular array of variables or constants in horizontal rows and vertical columns, usually enclosed in brackets. Data is organized in such a way that each position has a purpose. Each value of the matrix is called an element.

Step 2 - Write the matrix depicting data for each year

The data in the table can be organized in five column matrices of order $4\times 1$ for years 1996 to 2000. Let the matrices representing the data for each year be A, B, C, D and E. Then, 

$\begin{array}{l}\text{ 1996}\\ A=\begin{array}{c}\text{Lightning}\\ \text{Tornadoes}\\ \text{Floods}\\ \text{Hurricanes}\end{array}\left[\begin{array}{c}52\\ 25\\ 131\\ 37\end{array}\right]\end{array}$     $\begin{array}{l}\text{ 1997}\\ B=\begin{array}{c}\text{Lightning}\\ \text{Tornadoes}\\ \text{Floods}\\ \text{Hurricanes}\end{array}\left[\begin{array}{c}42\\ 67\\ 118\\ 1\end{array}\right]\end{array}$       $\begin{array}{l}\text{ 1997}\\ B=\begin{array}{c}\text{Lightning}\\ \text{Tornadoes}\\ \text{Floods}\\ \text{Hurricanes}\end{array}\left[\begin{array}{c}42\\ 67\\ 118\\ 1\end{array}\right]\end{array}$

$\begin{array}{l}\text{ 1997}\\ B=\begin{array}{c}\text{Lightning}\\ \text{Tornadoes}\\ \text{Floods}\\ \text{Hurricanes}\end{array}\left[\begin{array}{c}42\\ 67\\ 118\\ 1\end{array}\right]\end{array}$ and  $\begin{array}{l}\text{ 1997}\\ B=\begin{array}{c}\text{Lightning}\\ \text{Tornadoes}\\ \text{Floods}\\ \text{Hurricanes}\end{array}\left[\begin{array}{c}42\\ 67\\ 118\\ 1\end{array}\right]\end{array}$

Step 3 - State the conclusion

In order to find what type of severe weather accounted for most deaths each year, observe every matrix and look for the highest value.

 

According to matrix A, in year 1996, maximum deaths happened due to floods. Similarly, in year 1997, and 1998 deaths due to floods are 118 and 136 which are the highest. For year 1999, deaths due to Tornadoes were 94 and clearly, they are highest and finally in year 2000, deaths due to lightning were 51 and it is the highest.