Final answer:
The average rate of increase of the train fare from 1990 to 2000 is $0.70 per year, calculated by finding the total increase of the fare over the 10-year period and dividing it by the number of years.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves determining the average rate of increase of the train fare from 1990 to 2000. To find the average rate of increase, you need to calculate the total increase in fare and then divide it by the number of years over which the increase occurred. The train ticket price went from $5 in 1990 to $12 in 2000, which is an increase of $12 - $5 = $7. Since this increase happened over 10 years, from 1990 to 2000, you divide the total increase by the duration: $7 increase / 10 years = $0.70 per year. Therefore, the average rate of increase per year for the train fare is $0.70.