Rabbits are very popular domesticated animals, so popular that there are over 300 breeds of domesticated rabbits in the world. You attend a rabbit show and notice that all of the breeds vary in many characteristics, such as size, color, and fur length. You notice that there is weight information on the cages of all rabbit individuals at the show and decide to jot down data for two specific rabbit breeds (in pounds):
Breed A: 10, 8, 7, 10, 9, 9, 10, 9
Breed B: 10, 12, 14, 13, 10, 15, 11, 12
In three to five sentences, 1) calculate the average weights of the two rabbit breed groups, 2) describe some factors that could contribute to the different weights seen within breeds, and 3) describe how you would track and find the growth rate of the two rabbit breeds during an investigation.
(4 points)
1) The average weight of Breed A is (10 + 8 + 7 + 10 + 9 + 9 + 10 + 9) / 8 = 9 pounds. The average weight of Breed B is (10 + 12 + 14 + 13 + 10 + 15 + 11 + 12) / 8 = 12 pounds.
2) Factors that could contribute to the different weights seen within breeds include genetics, diet, exercise, and overall health. Breeders may selectively breed rabbits for certain traits, which can result in different sizes and weights within a breed.
3) To track and find the growth rate of the two rabbit breeds during an investigation, you can regularly weigh the rabbits at fixed intervals (e.g., weekly or monthly) and record their weights. By plotting the weights over time, you can calculate the growth rate by determining the change in weight over a specific period. This would involve subtracting the initial weight from the final weight and dividing it by the number of days or months between the two measurements.