The CIA published data about foreign countries on its web page. In particular they show total population as well as population growth. If a student is looking at Russia, they will see that the total population of Russia is declining. When they look at the table that shows annual population growth all the rates are positive. Assume population grows and declines at a rate proportional to the population. What is the problem?
The problem here is a contradiction between the information given. On one hand, the student sees that the total population of Russia is declining, indicating that the population is decreasing over time. On the other hand, when they look at the table showing annual population growth, they see all positive growth rates, implying that the population is actually increasing every year.
To resolve this contradiction, we need to understand the concept of population growth rates. When the student observes positive growth rates in the table, it means that the population is indeed increasing each year but at a decreasing rate compared to previous years. This can happen when the population growth rate is declining over time, even if it is still positive.
To further analyze the problem, we can use the assumption that population grows and declines at a rate proportional to the population. In this case, if the total population of Russia is declining, it suggests that the decline rate is greater than the growth rate. This could be due to factors such as high mortality rates, low birth rates, or significant emigration.
In summary, the contradiction arises because the total population of Russia is declining while the growth rates in the table are positive. This indicates that although the population is increasing each year, the growth rate is decreasing, leading to an overall decline in the total population.