Question

This graph shows the division of wealth in the United States in 2010.

Based on this graph, how much wealth did the top 20 percent of the population hold?

A - About 35 percent.
B - About 55 percent.
C - About 80 percent.
D - About 90 percent.

Answer 1

D. About 90%

Step-by-step explanation:

The top 1% holds about 35% of the wealth, and the next 19% hold about 55%.

35+55 = 90%

So the top 20% hold about 90% of total wealth.

Another way to calculate this is to notice that 80% of people hold 10% of the wealth, so you could make (x= percentage of people) and subtract the remaining percentage of wealth. So:

(80% of people - x% of people) = (100% total wealth- 10% already taken)

x= 90%

Answer 2

Based on this graph, the top 20 percent of the population consists of Top 1% and Next 19%. from the diagram above you can estimate that Top 1% has nearly 35% and Next 19% has nearly 55%.

Then the top 20% of the population hold about 35%+55%=90%.

Answer: correct choice is D.