Question

In the above table, which yearly period has the smallest percent increase in sales?

Answer 1

To determine which period has the smalles percent increase, we need to calculate it for each option.

The percent increase is calculated by dividing the difference between the final and initial values by the initial value:

`\text{Percent Increase}=\frac{\text{Final Value-Initial Value}}{\text{Initial Value}}*100`

Option A. For the period 85 - 86, sales went from 7000 to 9000:

`\text{Percent Increase}=(9000-7000)/(7000)=(2000)/(7000)=(2)/(7)=0.2857`

The percent increase for this period was then 28.57%.

Option B. For the period 86 - 87, sales went from 9000 to 12000:

`\text{Percent Increase}=(12000-9000)/(9000)=(3000)/(9000)=(3)/(9)=(1)/(3)=0.3333`

The percent increase for this period was 33.33%.

Option C. For the period 88 - 89, sales went from 16000 to 20000:

`\text{Percent Increase}=(20000-16000)/(16000)=(4000)/(16000)=(4)/(16)=(1)/(4)=0.25`

The percent increase this period was 25%.

Option D. For the period 89 - 90, sales went from 2000 to 24000:

`\text{Percent increase}=(24000-20000)/(20000)=(4000)/(20000)=(4)/(20)=(1)/(5)=0.2`

The percent increase this period was 20%.

Comparing all the options, we have that the period with the smallest percent increase was 1989 - 90. Option D is the correct answer.