Answer: Assuming the initial cost of producing 1 watt of solar energy in 1977 was $76.40, as in the original activity, we can calculate the alternate costs for each year using the given decrease of $12.20 per year.
Year 1977:
Cost = $76.40
Year 1978:
Cost = $76.40 - $12.20 = $64.20
Year 1979:
Cost = $64.20 - $12.20 = $52.00
Year 1980:
Cost = $52.00 - $12.20 = $39.80
Year 1981:
Cost = $39.80 - $12.20 = $27.60
Year 1982:
Cost = $27.60 - $12.20 = $15.40
We can plot these alternate costs on the same graph as the actual costs shown in the activity. Here is the updated graph:
$120.00 +------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |
| Actual cost (1977-1982) |
$100.00 + +
| |
| |
| |
| Alternate cost (1977-1982) |
$ 80.00 + +
| |
| |
| |
| |
$ 60.00 + +
| |
| |
| |
| |
$ 40.00 + +
| |
| |
| |
| |
$ 20.00 + +
| |
| |
| |
| |
$ 0.00 +------------------------------+
1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Year
We can see from the graph that the alternate costs decrease more rapidly than the actual costs shown in the activity. By 1982, the alternate cost is only $15.40, while the actual cost is around $30. This suggests that the actual decrease in the cost of producing 1 watt of solar energy was slower than the alternate decrease assumed in this question. However, it's important to note that this is just a hypothetical scenario and may not accurately reflect the actual costs over this time period.
Explanation: