I10-16

Question

The table below shows the per-person average share of total food expenditures and calorie intake for various food categories across three regions of Tanzania.
      Region   Dar es Salaam   Southern Highlands   Lake Zone       Food Item   Calorie   Expenditure   Calorie   Expenditure   Calorie   Expenditure       Beans   5.5%   4.8%   7.1%   7.5%   6.7%   6.7%       Beef / goat   1.5%   2.6%   0.9%   1.5%   1.1%   3.4%       Cassava   1.1%   0.3%   4.1%   0.1%   19.4%   1.8%       Cooking bananas   1.0%   1.3%   1.8%   2.6%   5.1%   5.5%       Cooking oil   8.5%   5.7%   5.1%   4.4%   3.9%   9.2%       Fish   0.9%   9.3%   0.8%   5.3%   1.8%   6.2%       Maize   23.4%   9.9%   50.6%   28.0%   31.3%   17.5%       Mangoes / Other fruit   0.8%   1.2%   0.5%   1.2%   1.2%   0.9%       Millet / Sorghum   0.8%   0.6%   0.8%   0.6%   3.6%   2.1%       Potatoes   0.6%   1.4%   0.9%   2.1%   0.5%   0.8%       Poultry   0.3%   1.1%   0.1%   1.9%   0.3%   9.6%       Rice   21.2%   13.5%   9.2%   6.8%   8.5%   6.2%       Ripe banana   0.4%   4.9%   0.4%   4.7%   0.4%   3.0%       Sweet potatoes   0.3%   0.5%   0.9%   1.2%   3.4%   4.2%       Wheat / Other grains   0.7%   0.5%   0.1%   1.2%   1.3%   4.2%        Total     67.0%     57.6%     83.3%     69.1%     88.5%     81.3%

For each of the following statements, select  True  if the statement is supported by information in the table. Otherwise, select  False .

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

Statement 1: 
 
Among the 15 listed food categories, the one contributing the most to calorie intake is Maize in all three regions, with calorie-to-expenditure ratios of approximately 2.4, 1.8, and 1.8 across these regions. However, upon quickly scanning other food categories, it becomes clear that Cassava has a much higher ratio. For example, in the Southern Highlands, Cassava accounts for 4.1% of calorie intake while only 0.1% of food expenditures, resulting in a ratio of 41. Therefore, this statement is False.
 
 Statement 2: 
 
Assuming the per-person expenditure on food in Dar es Salaam is $100, it would be $200 in the Southern Highlands. This would result in expenditures on rice being $13.5 in Dar es Salaam and $13.6 in the Southern Highlands, which are roughly the same. Therefore, this statement is True.
 
 Statement 3: 
 
The amount spent on Fish accounted for 9.3% of total food expenditures in Dar es Salaam, while the same amount accounted for only 6.2% in the Lake Zone. This indicates that the per-person total expenditure on food in the Lake Zone must have been higher than in Dar es Salaam.

Correct answer:

Among the 15 listed food categories, the one contributing the most to calorie intake has the highest calorie-to-expenditure ratio in each of the three regions.  "False"

If the average per-person total food expenditure, in dollar terms, in the Southern Highlands is twice that of Dar es Salaam, then the per-person amount spent on rice in the Southern Highlands is approximately the same as in Dar es Salaam.  "True"

If the average per-person expenditures, in dollar terms, on Fish in the Lake Zone and Dar es Salaam are roughly the same, and Fish cost the same in both regions, then the total per-person expenditures on food in the Lake Zone are 50% less than in Dar es Salaam.  "False"

Bunuel · Answer

I have revised the question, solution, and formatting by adding more details to enhance clarity.

3D · Answer

This is a great question that’s helpful for learning.

Karym · Answer

I like the solution - it’s helpful.

Karym · Answer

I like the solution - it’s helpful.

sidisking · Answer

I did not quite understand the solution. Could you explain the answer for statement 3? Why is the total expenditure higher? We only know the cost of the fish is the same and the percentage of fish expenditure in both regions, how are we inferring that total food expenditure in one region is higher than the other?

Bunuel · Answer

The key point is that the same fish spending represents different percentages of total food expenditure. If both regions spend the same dollar amount on fish, but that amount is 9.3% of total food expenditure in Dar es Salaam and only 6.2% in the Lake Zone, then the Lake Zone’s total must be larger, because the same amount is a smaller share of the total. For example, if fish spending is $9.30, then total food expenditure is $100 in Dar es Salaam, but $150 in the Lake Zone. So the Lake Zone total is about 50% higher, not 50% less, which is why statement 3 is False.

I10-16

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My Rewards

Food Item	Calorie	Expenditure	Calorie	Expenditure	Calorie	Expenditure
Region	Dar es Salaam		Southern Highlands		Lake Zone
Beans	5.5%	4.8%	7.1%	7.5%	6.7%	6.7%
Beef / goat	1.5%	2.6%	0.9%	1.5%	1.1%	3.4%
Cassava	1.1%	0.3%	4.1%	0.1%	19.4%	1.8%
Cooking bananas	1.0%	1.3%	1.8%	2.6%	5.1%	5.5%
Cooking oil	8.5%	5.7%	5.1%	4.4%	3.9%	9.2%
Fish	0.9%	9.3%	0.8%	5.3%	1.8%	6.2%
Maize	23.4%	9.9%	50.6%	28.0%	31.3%	17.5%
Mangoes / Other fruit	0.8%	1.2%	0.5%	1.2%	1.2%	0.9%
Millet / Sorghum	0.8%	0.6%	0.8%	0.6%	3.6%	2.1%
Potatoes	0.6%	1.4%	0.9%	2.1%	0.5%	0.8%
Poultry	0.3%	1.1%	0.1%	1.9%	0.3%	9.6%
Rice	21.2%	13.5%	9.2%	6.8%	8.5%	6.2%
Ripe banana	0.4%	4.9%	0.4%	4.7%	0.4%	3.0%
Sweet potatoes	0.3%	0.5%	0.9%	1.2%	3.4%	4.2%
Wheat / Other grains	0.7%	0.5%	0.1%	1.2%	1.3%	4.2%
Total	67.0%	57.6%	83.3%	69.1%	88.5%	81.3%

True	False
		Among the 15 listed food categories, the one contributing the most to calorie intake has the highest calorie-to-expenditure ratio in each of the three regions.
		If the average per-person total food expenditure, in dollar terms, in the Southern Highlands is twice that of Dar es Salaam, then the per-person amount spent on rice in the Southern Highlands is approximately the same as in Dar es Salaam.
		If the average per-person expenditures, in dollar terms, on Fish in the Lake Zone and Dar es Salaam are roughly the same, and Fish cost the same in both regions, then the total per-person expenditures on food in the Lake Zone are 50% less than in Dar es Salaam.