Question

Instructions: The following bar graph gives the production, exports and per-capita consumption of rice in country A, for the five years from 2006 to 2010. Consumption = Production - Exports. Per Capita Consumption = Consumption ÷ Population.

Reading the chart precisely gives this table:
2006: Consumption = 72.5 million kg, Per-capita consumption = 36.25 kg
2007: Consumption = 88 million kg, Per-capita consumption = 35.2 kg
2008: Consumption = 108 million kg, Per-capita consumption = 38.7 kg
2009: Consumption = 105 million kg, Per-capita consumption = 40.5 kg
2010: Consumption = 127 million kg, Per-capita consumption = 42 kg

What is the population of country A in the year 2008 (in million)?

• A. 2.64 million
• B. 2.72 million
• C. 2.79 million
• D. 2.85 million

Hint:

Population = Consumption divided by per-capita consumption, using the 2008 figures.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

This is a direct rearrangement of the per-capita formula, so the key is just to divide the right two numbers from the chart for the correct year.

1. Per capita consumption is defined as consumption divided by population, so population is consumption divided by per-capita consumption.
2. For 2008, consumption is 108 million kg and per-capita consumption is 38.7 kg.
3. Population $= \frac{108}{38.7} \approx 2.79$ million.

So the correct answer is option C, 2.79 million.