Instructions

Comprehension:
Out of 10 countries -- Country 1 through Country 10 -- Country 9 has the highest gross domestic product (GDP), and Country 10 has the highest GDP per capita. GDP per capita is the GDP of a country divided by its population. The table below provides the following data about Country 1 through Country 8 for the year 2024.
• Column 1 gives the country's identity.
• Column 2 gives the country’s GDP as a fraction of the GDP of Country 9.
• Column 3 gives the country’s GDP per capita as a fraction of the GDP per capita of Country10.
• Column 4 gives the country’s annual GDP growth rate.
• Column 5 gives the country’s annual population growth rate.

Screenshot_11

Assume that the GDP growth rates and population growth rates of the countries will remain constant for the next three years.

Question 38

Which one among the countries 1 through 8, has the smallest population in 2024?

Solution

We are given the following table,

Screenshot 2024-12-03 at 10

This table compares the GDP, GDP per capita, and population of eight countries, all of which are referenced using a consistent set of units.
Specifically, the GDP values are all given with the same country as the reference point (The reference point being Country 9)
Similarly, the GDP per capita among the eight countries in the table is given using the same reference point (The reference point being Country 10)
As a result, when comparing two countries from the list in terms of GDP, GDP per capita, or population, we can directly use the values presented in the table, since they are all based on a uniform reference point.
We can compare the population of two countries using the formula, $$Population=\dfrac{GDP}{GDP\ Per\ Capita}$$
For example
, to compare the GDP of Country A and Country B, we can simply use the values listed under "GDP" in the table, as both are referenced using the same country throughout. This eliminates the need for additional conversions or adjustments.

In this question we are asked to find which of the countries among the four options has the least population in 2024 (The current year)
Option A: Country 8
GDP=0.07 and GDP Per Capita=0.41
Population=0.07/0.41 or $$\frac{7}{41}$$

Option B: Country 3
GDP=0.13 and GDP Per Capita=0.02
Population=0.13/0.02 or $$\frac{13}{2}$$

Option C: Country 7
GDP=0.08 and GDP Per Capita=0.3
Population=0.08/0.3 or $$\frac{8}{30}$$

Option D: Country 5
GDP=0.1 and GDP Per Capita=0.36
Population=0.1/0.36 or $$\frac{10}{36}$$

Comparing the four values, we are looking for the smallest values among the four, 
$$\frac{7}{41}$$, $$\frac{13}{2}$$, $$\frac{8}{30}$$, $$\frac{10}{36}$$


$$\frac{7}{41}$$ is the smallest value among the four, hence Option A or Country 8 is the answer. 


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