Question

scientists predict that a 0.5 m sea level rise is likely, with more possible. we calculated that about 4,000,000 people would have to move if the sea level rose by this amount. if the sea level rose by even 1/10th this amount, about how many people would likely have to move? (assume the population is distributed evenly across the affected areas.

400,000 people
2,000,000 people
40,000 people
40,000,000 people

Explanation:

Step1: Identify the relationship

Since the population is distributed evenly, the number of people who need to move is proportional to the sea - level rise.

Step2: Calculate the new number of people

If the original sea - level rise is $h_1 = 0.5$m and the number of people who need to move is $n_1=4000000$, and the new sea - level rise is $h_2=\frac{1}{10}\times0.5 = 0.05$m. Let the new number of people be $n_2$. Using the proportion $\frac{n_2}{n_1}=\frac{h_2}{h_1}$, we have $n_2=\frac{h_2}{h_1}\times n_1$. Substitute $h_1 = 0.5$m, $h_2 = 0.05$m and $n_1 = 4000000$ into the formula: $n_2=\frac{0.05}{0.5}\times4000000$.
$n_2 = 0.1\times4000000=400000$.

Answer:

A. 400,000 people