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, Per-capita = 36.25, Population = 2.00 million
2007: Consumption = 88, Per-capita = 35.2, Population = 2.5 million
2008: Consumption = 108, Per-capita = 38.7, Population = 2.79 million
2009: Consumption = 105, Per-capita = 40.5, Population = 2.59 million
2010: Consumption = 127, Per-capita = 42, Population = 3.02 million

In which of the given years was the population of country A the highest?

• A. 2007
• B. 2008
• C. 2009
• D. 2010

Hint:

Divide each year’s consumption by its per-capita consumption and compare all five results.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Since population is consumption divided by per-capita consumption for every year, comparing all five years just means computing this ratio five times and picking the largest.

1. 2006: $72.5 / 36.25 = 2.00$
2. 2007: $88 / 35.2 = 2.50$
3. 2008: $108 / 38.7 \approx 2.79$
4. 2009: $105 / 40.5 \approx 2.59$
5. 2010: $127 / 42 \approx 3.02$

The value for 2010 is clearly the largest of the five.

So the correct answer is option D, 2010.