What are axes in relation to a graph?

The correct answer identifies the axes as the fixed lines that carry the scales for coordinates on a graph. In graphical representations, especially in Cartesian coordinate systems, the horizontal axis (usually the x-axis) and the vertical axis (the y-axis) serve as the reference lines from which data points are plotted. These axes provide the structure needed to quantify and visually interpret relationships between variables by indicating where each variable is positioned in relation to one another. Each axis is typically marked with numerical or categorical values, forming a grid that allows for easy reading and analysis of the plotted data.

The remaining options do not appropriately define what axes are. For example, while maximum and minimum values are important for understanding the range of data, they do not pertain to the definition of axes themselves. Similarly, variables impacting the outcome of the graph relate more to the data being represented rather than the structural elements of the graph. Design elements pertain to aesthetics and not the functional role that axes play in graphing data.