Question

A graph titled Percent of Population 25 Years and Over with a High School Diploma or More by Race shows percent labeled on the x-axis and years labeled on the y-axis. In 1960, 21.7 percent were Black American and 43.2 percent were White. In 1980, 51.2 percent were Black American and 68.8 percent were White. In 2000, 72.3 percent were Black American and 83.6 percent were White.
How do the percentages in 2021 compare to those in 1980?

The difference between the groups increased and then decreased.
The difference between the two groups was the same in 2021 as 1980.
There is more of a difference between the two groups in 2021 than in 1980.
There is less of a difference between the two groups in 2021 than in 1980.

Answer 1

To answer the comparison between the percentages of the population 25 years and over with a high school diploma or more in 2021 versus 1980, we first need the percentages for both Black Americans and White Americans in 2021. However, since the data provided only goes up to 2000, we cannot definitively compare the 2021 figures to those in 1980 without that information.

If the percentages in 2021 were made available, the steps to analyze the difference would be:
1. Calculate the percentage difference between Black Americans and White Americans for both 1980 and 2021.
2. Compare those differences.

- In 1980, the difference was:
\(68.8\% - 51.2\% = 17.6\%\)

If the difference in 2021 is greater than 17.6%, you would conclude that "there is more of a difference between the two groups in 2021 than in 1980." If it's less, you would conclude "there is less of a difference between the two groups in 2021 than in 1980." If it is the same, you would choose "the difference between the two groups was the same in 2021 as 1980."

Without the 2021 data, it's impossible to determine the correct answer. If you have access to the 2021 data, please share that for an accurate comparison.