Discovering a trend in a population change over time might help a geographer

calculate the amount of people the population changed by.
visualize the change in the population.
• create a table with the raw data of the population.
• draw a conclusion about why the population changed.

1 answer

To analyze population change over time and help draw conclusions about the factors influencing this change, let’s use a hypothetical example. We’ll create raw data reflecting the population of a fictional town over a period of five years, visualize it, and then interpret the results.

Step 1: Create a Table with Raw Population Data

| Year | Population | |------|------------| | 2019 | 10,000 | | 2020 | 10,500 | | 2021 | 11,000 | | 2022 | 12,000 | | 2023 | 13,500 |

Step 2: Visualize the Change in Population

We can visualize this data using a simple line graph:

Population Change Over Time

Population
   |
14K|                 *
   |                *
13K|              *
   |            
12K|            *
   |         
11K|        *
   |     
10K|    *
   |____________________
        2019  2020  2021  2022  2023

Step 3: Calculate the Change in Population

To find the total change in population from 2019 to 2023:

  • Population in 2019: 10,000
  • Population in 2023: 13,500

Change in Population = 13,500 - 10,000 = 3,500

Conclusion about Why the Population Changed

Several factors could contribute to the population increase seen in this hypothetical data:

  1. Economic Growth: If the town experienced economic growth, it may have attracted new residents seeking jobs. This can be evidenced by an increase in local businesses, infrastructure development, or new industries.

  2. Migration: There might have been an influx of people due to factors such as better living conditions, educational opportunities, or amenities.

  3. Decreased Mortality Rate: Improvements in healthcare and living standards could lead to a decreased mortality rate, resulting in a larger population.

  4. Birth Rates: An increase in birth rates, possibly influenced by the town’s favorable conditions for families, could also drive population growth.

In summary, the population of the fictional town increased by 3,500 over five years. Factors such as economic growth, migration, and improvements in health and living conditions could explain this growth trend.