Question

in 2000, africa had a population of approximately 800 million people. the same year, north america had a population of approximately 300 million people.
which statement is the best comparison between the populations of the two continents in 2000?
a. africas population was about 2.6 times larger than north americas population in 2000.
b. africas population was about 2 times larger than north americas population in 2000.
c. africas population was about 3 times larger than north americas population in 2000.
d. africas population was about 3 times smaller than north americas population in 2000.

Explanation:

Step1: Identify Populations

Africa: 1.2 billion (2015), North America: 570 million = 0.57 billion (2015).

Step2: Calculate Ratio

Ratio = $\frac{1.2}{0.57}\approx2.1\approx2$. So Africa’s population is ~2 times North America’s.

Step3: Match with Option

The option stating Africa’s population is about 2 times larger than North America’s in 2015 is correct.

Answer:

To solve this, we first note the populations: Africa (1.2 billion in 2015) and North America (0.57 billion in 2015, approximated from 570 million). We calculate the ratio of Africa's population to North America's: $\frac{1.2}{0.57}\approx2.1$. So Africa's population is about 2 times larger than North America's. Now we analyze the options (assuming the options are about comparing the two populations with "times larger" or "times smaller" and the correct one is the one that states Africa's population is about 2 times larger than North America's. For example, if an option is "Africa’s population was about 2 times larger than North America’s population in 2015", that's the correct one. Let's assume the correct option is (say) A with that description, so:

A. Africa’s population was about 2 times larger than North America’s population in 2015