Leaf surface area is an important variable in plant gas-exchange rates. The
article "Fluidized Bed Coating of Conifer Needles with Glass Beads for
Determination of Leaf Surface Area" (Forest Science [1980]: 29-32) included an
analysis of dry matter per unit surface area \(\left(\mathrm{mg} /
\mathrm{cm}^{3}\right)\) for trees raised under three different growing
conditions. Let \(\mu_{1}, \mu_{2}\), and \(\mu_{3}\) represent the true mean dry
matter per unit surface area for the growing conditions 1 , 2 , and 3 ,
respectively. The given \(95 \%\) simultaneous confidence intervals are based on
summary quantities that appear in the article:
\(\begin{array}{llll}\text { Difference } & \mu_{1}-\mu_{2} & \mu_{1}-\mu_{3} &
\mu_{2}-\mu_{3}\end{array}\)
\(\begin{array}{llll}\text { Interval } & (-3.11,-1.11) & (-4.06,-2.06) &
(-1.95, .05)\end{array}\)
Which of the following four statements do you think describes the relationship
between \(\mu_{1}, \mu_{2}\), and \(\mu_{3} ?\) Explain your choice.
a. \(\mu_{1}=\mu_{2}\), and \(\mu_{3}\) differs from \(\mu_{1}\) and \(\mu_{2}\).
b. \(\mu_{1}=\mu_{3}\), and \(\mu_{2}\) differs from \(\mu_{1}\) and \(\mu_{3}\).
c. \(\mu_{2}=\mu_{3}\), and \(\mu_{1}\) differs from \(\mu_{2}\) and \(\mu_{3}\).
d. All three \(\mu\) 's are different from one another.