The percentage increase in imports from 1997 to 1998 cannot be determined from the given information alone because the data only provide the ratio of imports to exports, not the actual values.

Quick Scoop

  • The question refers to a line graph showing the ratio of imports to exports for different years.
  • To compute percentage increase in imports, you need either:
    • Actual import values for 1997 and 1998, or
    • Actual export values plus the ratios, and an assumption that exports stay constant.
  • Since only the ratios are given and no absolute figures or constancy assumption is stated, the data is considered “data inadequate” in standard exam solutions.

Why the data is inadequate

  1. Percentage increase formula:

Percentage increase=Imports1998−Imports1997Imports1997×100\text{Percentage increase}=\frac{\text{Imports}{1998}-\text{Imports}{1997}}{\text{Imports}_{1997}}\times 100Percentage increase=Imports1997​Imports1998​−Imports1997​​×100

To use this, both Imports1997\text{Imports}{1997}Imports1997​ and Imports1998\text{Imports}{1998}Imports1998​ must be known as actual numbers, not just ratios.

  1. The provided graph (in typical exam questions) only shows “imports : exports” for each year, such as 0.35 or 1.25 etc., without telling you the export figures.
  1. Multiple reputable exam-solution sites explicitly mark the correct answer as “Data inadequate” for this exact question.

So, unless your version of the question also gives actual import/export values or states that exports remain constant, the correct response is: Data inadequate – the percentage increase cannot be calculated.

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