The following table shows the U.S. population, in millions, in the given year. $$\begin{array} { | l | l | l | l | l | l | }
\hline d = \text { year } & 1960 & 1970 & 1980 & 1990 & 2000 \
\hline \begin{array} { l }
N = \text { popula- } \
\text { tion in mil- } \
\text { lions }
\end{array} & 179.32 & 203.3 & 226.54 & 248.71 & 281.42 \
\hline
\end{array}$$ Use the average rate of change to estimate the U.S. population in 1996.
A) 268.34 million
B) 251.98 million
C) 265.07 million
D) None of the above

Question

The following table shows the U.S. population, in millions, in the given year. $$\begin{array} { | l | l | l | l | l | l | } 
\hline d = \text { year } & 1960 & 1970 & 1980 & 1990 & 2000 \
\hline \begin{array} { l } 
N = \text { popula- } \
\text { tion in mil- } \
\text { lions }
\end{array} & 179.32 & 203.3 & 226.54 & 248.71 & 281.42 \
\hline
\end{array}$$ Use the average rate of change to estimate the U.S. population in 1996.
A) 268.34 million
B) 251.98 million
C) 265.07 million
D) None of the above

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The average rate of change from 1990 to 2000 can be calculated as $\frac{281.42 - 248.71}{2000 - 1990} = \frac{32.71}{10} = 3.271$ million per year. To estimate the population in 1996, we add 6 years' worth of growth to the 1990 population: $248.71 + 6(3.271) = 248.71 + 19.626 = 268.336$, which rounds to 268.34 million.

The Following Table Shows the U Use the Average Rate of Change to Estimate the U