Leaf surface area is an important variable in plant gas-exchange rates. Dry matter per unit surface area

(mg/cm3

) was measured for trees raised under three different growing conditions. Let m1, m2, and m3 represent the mean dry matter per unit surface area for the growing conditions 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The given 95% simultaneous confidence intervals are:

Difference m1 m2 m1 m3 m2 m3 Interval (3.11, 1.11) (4.06, 2.06) (1.95, .05)

Which of the following four statements do you think describes the relationship between m1, m2, and m3? Explain your choice.

a. m1 m2, and m3 differs from m1 and m2.

b. m1 m3, and m2 differs from m1 and m3.

c. m2 m3, and m1 differs from m2 and m3.

d. All three m’s are different from one another.