Question

the table below shows the percentage of male and female populations in a certain county employed in the work force in selected years from 1970 to 2005.
year 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
women (%) 40.2 42.8 45.3 51.2 53.8 55.4 56.7 58.1
men (%) 81.5 79.2 77.8 75.3 69.1 66.8 64.2 65.8
(a) according to the numerical model, what has been the trend in males joining the work force since 1970?
(b) in what 5 - year interval did the percentage of males who were employed change the most?
(a) what has been the trend in males joining the work force since 1970? choose the correct answer below.
a. there is an increasing trend in males joining the work force except for a slight drop from 2000 to 2005.
b. there is a decreasing trend in males joining the work force.
c. there is a decreasing trend in males joining the work force except for a slight increase from 2000 to 2005.
(b) in what 5 - year interval did the percentage of males who were employed change the most?

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the trend for men

Looking at the men's percentage values: \(81.5\) (1970), \(79.2\) (1975), \(77.8\) (1980), \(75.3\) (1985), \(69.1\) (1990), \(66.8\) (1995), \(64.2\) (2000), \(65.8\) (2005). The values are mostly decreasing (\(81.5>79.2>77.8>75.3>69.1>66.8>64.2\)) with a small increase from \(64.2\) (2000) to \(65.8\) (2005).

Step2: Calculate the change for each 5 - year interval for men

• \(1970 - 1975\): \(|79.2 - 81.5|=2.3\)
• \(1975 - 1980\): \(|77.8 - 79.2| = 1.4\)
• \(1980 - 1985\): \(|75.3 - 77.8|=2.5\)
• \(1985 - 1990\): \(|69.1 - 75.3| = 6.2\)
• \(1990 - 1995\): \(|66.8 - 69.1|=2.3\)
• \(1995 - 2000\): \(|64.2 - 66.8|=2.6\)
• \(2000 - 2005\): \(|65.8 - 64.2|=1.6\)

Answer:

(a) C. There is a decreasing trend in males joining the work force except for a slight increase from 2000 to 2005.
(b) \(1985 - 1990\)