Have vehicles gotten more fuel-efficient over the years? Between 1960 and 1999 the size and shape of automobiles in the United States has changed almost annually. The amount of fuel consumed by these vehicles has also changed. The
following table describes the average fuel consumption per year per passenger car in gallons of gasoline.
(1998
1960
1668
Year,
Gallons Consumed Per
Passenger Car
1970
1760
(1980
1576
|1990 1995
1520 1530
(1997
538
1999
552
544
Determine the average rate of change, in gallons of gas per year, from 1960 and 1999 and then determine what the resu
means in this situation.
a. -0.33gal/year, the average fuel consumption per year of a passenger car in the U. S. decreased
by a third of a gallon per year.
b. 0.33 gal/year, the average fuel consumption per year of a passenger car in the U. S. increased
by a third of a gallon per year.
c. 2.97 gal/year, the average fuel consumption per year of a passenger car in the U. S. increased
by nearly 3 gal/year.
d. -2.97 gal/year, the average fuel consumption per year of a passenger car in the U. S. decreased