Final answer:
The Mali Empire was larger than the Ghana Empire, having expanded its territory to include the area formerly controlled by Ghana and extending to the coast of Africa, covering an area the size of Western Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing the size and location of the Mali Empire to the Ghana Empire, we find that the Mali Empire was indeed larger and expanded further territory than Ghana. Mali extended from the Lower Senegal and Upper Niger rivers eastward to the Niger bend and advanced to the Atlantic coast, thus covering a larger area than Ghana, which was located between western Mali and southeastern Mauritania. The Mali Empire arose after the decline of the Ghana Empire, inheriting some of its territories and extending further into the Sahel. They both were situated in the same region but at different times, with Mali descending further along the Niger River. The Mali Empire became a prosperous state with affluent trade, religious influence due to Islam, and significant cultural impact, which included several major cities like Niani, Timbuktu, and Gao that were key commercial centers.
The correct answer to the student's question on how the Mali Empire compared to the Ghana Empire in terms of size and location would be: A) Mali was a larger empire that expanded to the coast of Africa.