Question

6 the graphs represent parts of mikes swimming practice, where he swims away from a starting block, pushes off a wall, and swims back to the starting block. assume mike swims at a constant speed. draw a line to match each description on the left with its graph.
mike swims away from the starting block and then stops to tread water for a little while before continuing toward the wall at a slower pace.
mike waits at the starting block until his teammate swims out of the way, and then he swims at a steady pace to the other side.
mike pushes off the opposite wall and swims in the direction of the starting block, then treads water for a bit before continuing to swim at the same pace toward the starting block.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the first description

Mike swims away (distance increases), stops (distance constant), then continues toward the wall (distance decreases) at a slower pace (less steep slope). The fourth graph (bottom right) has an increasing segment, a flat segment (treading water), then a decreasing segment with a less steep slope than the initial increase. So match "Mike swims away from the starting block and then stops to tread water for a little while before continuing toward the wall at a slower pace" to the fourth graph.

Step2: Analyze the second description

Mike waits at the starting block (distance = 0, time passes), then swims away (distance increases at constant speed). The first graph (top right) starts with time passing and distance 0, then distance increases. So match "Mike waits at the starting block until his teammate swims out of the way, and then he swims at a steady pace to the other side" to the first graph.

Step3: Analyze the third description

Mike pushes off the wall (distance from starting block is maximum, starts decreasing), treads water (distance constant), then continues decreasing at same pace (same slope). The second graph (middle right) has a decreasing segment, a flat segment, then a decreasing segment with same slope. So match "Mike pushes off the opposite wall and swims in the direction of the starting block, then treads water for a bit before continuing to swim at the same pace toward the starting block" to the second graph. The third graph (middle bottom) is a straight line decreasing, which would be swimming back at constant speed without stopping, so it's not matched here.

Answer:

• "Mike swims away from the starting block and then stops to tread water for a little while before continuing toward the wall at a slower pace" → The bottom - right graph (with increasing, flat, then less - steep decreasing segments).
• "Mike waits at the starting block until his teammate swims out of the way, and then he swims at a steady pace to the other side" → The top - right graph (starts with time passing, then distance increases).
• "Mike pushes off the opposite wall and swims in the direction of the starting block, then treads water for a bit before continuing to swim at the same pace toward the starting block" → The middle - right graph (decreasing, flat, then same - slope decreasing segments).