Multiple choice

The population of the town of Paxton continuously increased in the two decades 1960 through 1969 and 1970 through 1979. Was the percentage increase greater in the first decade than in the second decade? (1) The population increase in the first decade was 10,082. (2) The population increased by the same amount in both decades.

  1. if statement (1) ALONE is sufficient to answer the question but statement (2) alone is not sufficient;

  2. if statement (2) ALONE is sufficient to answer the question but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.

  3. if the two statements TAKEN TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient;

  4. if EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question;

  5. if the two statements TAKEN TOGETHER are still NOT sufficient to answer the question

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
AI explanation

Percentage increase is calculated by dividing the absolute increase by the starting population. Statement 2 alone tells us the absolute increase was identical in both decades, meaning the decade with the smaller starting population had the greater percentage increase. This information is sufficient to determine that the first decade had a greater percentage increase, since the first decade precedes the second.