Final answer:
The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are set to meet the nutritional needs of 97.5% of the population, ensuring nearly all individuals have their dietary needs met.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are guidelines established to meet the known nutritional needs of 97.5% of the population. The RDA is a derivative calculation based on the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), which aims to satisfy the dietary needs of 50% of the population. The RDA provides a sufficient margin to ensure the majority of the population receives their nutritional requirements, taking into account different life stages and conditions, such as infancy, childhood, adulthood, as well as pregnancy and lactation. For a standard 2,000 Calorie diet, the % Daily Value (%DV) for nutrients is calculated to reflect what percentage of the RDA is met by consuming specific foods or supplements.
The correct answer to the student's question regarding what percentage of the known nutritional needs the RDAs are adequate to meet, is that they are considered to meet the nutritional needs of c) 99.7% of the population.