Question

The following chart shows a store?s records of coat sales over two years.
2 circle graphs. A circle graph titled 2006. Top coats is 297, parkas is 210, jackets is 213, raincoats is 137, trench coats is 103. A circle graph titled 2007. Topcoats is 223, parkas is 210, jackets is 285, raincoats is 259, trench coats is 127.
If the trend shown in these graphs stays constant, what percent of the market will parkas occupy in 2008? (Round your answer to the nearest tenth.)
a.
16.5%
b.
19.0%
c.
21.9%
d.
35.7%

Answer 1

Find the year-to-year change and apply it again to get 2008 totals.

Changes 2007 − 2006:
- Topcoats: 223 − 297 = −74
- Parkas: 210 − 210 = 0
- Jackets: 285 − 213 = +72
- Raincoats: 259 − 137 = +122
- Trench coats: 127 − 103 = +24

Predict 2008 by adding those changes to 2007:
- Topcoats: 223 − 74 = 149
- Parkas: 210 + 0 = 210
- Jackets: 285 + 72 = 357
- Raincoats: 259 + 122 = 381
- Trench coats: 127 + 24 = 151

Total 2008 = 149 + 210 + 357 + 381 + 151 = 1248.
Parkas share = 210/1248 ≈ 0.168269 = 16.8% (to the nearest tenth).

The closest answer choice is (a) 16.5%.