Final answer:
Relative dating, which determines the sequence of fossil ages through their layers in the rock, offers the advantage of not requiring each fossil to be dated individually in contrast to absolute dating, which provides an exact age using radioactive elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that describes an advantage of relative dating compared to absolute dating is that relative dating can determine which of two fossils is older or younger but not their exact age in years. Relative dating techniques are based on the concept of superposition, where lower layers in rock formations are assumed to contain older fossils, as depicted in rock layer stratigraphy. This method is advantageous because it allows the establishment of a fossil's geological age without the necessity of dating each fossil individually, which would be required in absolute dating techniques such as radiometric dating that measures the decay of radioactive elements.
While relative dating does not provide an exact age, it is helpful for understanding the sequence of events and organisms in the geologic record. It can show a progression of species and the rate of speciation, which is essential for reconstructing the history of life. However, it lacks the specific timeframes provided by absolute dating methods, which can be critical for detailed analysis.