Question

In Pennsylvania there were more teacher strikes in 2004 than there were in all other states combined. Because of the disruptions, state legislators want to pass a bill outlawing teacher strikes and submitting contract disputes to binding arbitration. The graph shows the number of teacher strikes in Pennsylvania for the school years 1997 to 2011. Use the graph to answer these questions.
a. In what year did the largest number of strikes occur? How many were there?
b. In what year did the smallest number of teacher strikes occur? How many were there?
c. In what year was the average duration of the strikes the longest? How long was it?
d. In what year was the average duration of the strikes the shortest? How long was it?
e. In what year was the number of teacher strikes the same as the average duration of the strikes?
f. Find the difference in the number of strikes for the school years 1997–1998 and 2010–2011.
g. Do you think teacher strikes should be outlawed? Justify your conclusions.

Answer 1

a)

From the given graph “Teacher Strikes in Pennsylvania”, it is clear that the largest number of strikes has occurred in the year 2006-2007. The number of strikes that occurred in the year of 2006-2007 is approximately 18.

 

b)

From the given graph “Teacher Strikes in Pennsylvania”, it is clear that the smallest number of teacher strikes has occurred in the year 2010-2011. The number of strikes that occurred in the year of 2010-2011 is approximately 3.

 

c)

From the given graph “Teacher Strikes in Pennsylvania”, it is clear that the longest average duration of the strikes has occurred in the year 2010-2011. The longest average duration of the strikes that occurred in the year of 2010-2011 is approximately 21.

 

d)

From the given graph “Teacher Strikes in Pennsylvania”, it is clear that the shortest average duration of the strikes has occurred in the year 1997-1998. The shortest average duration of the strikes that occurred in the year of 1997-1998 is approximately 7.

 

e)

From the given graph “Teacher Strikes in Pennsylvania”, it is clear that the number of teacher strikes are same as the average duration of the strikes that occurred in the year 2004-2005.

 

f)

Compute the difference in the number of strikes for the school years 1997-1998 and 2010-2011.

 

From the given graph “Teacher Strikes in Pennsylvania”, it is clear that, the number of strikes that occurred in the year 1997-1998 is approximately 9.

 

From the given graph “Teacher Strikes in Pennsylvania”, it is clear that, the number of strikes that occurred in the year 2010-2011 is approximately 3.

 

The difference in the number of strikes is,

9 – 3 = 6

 

Thus, the difference in the number of strikes for the school years 1997-1998 and 2010-2011 is 6.

 

g)

Yes, teacher strikes should be outlawed. When a state is having teacher strikes then the schools have to be closed for that particular time. Student’s academic records are impacted more negatively due to the teacher strikes. This might also lead to increase in the rate of dropouts in schools.