Teachers should introduce the topic using the examples given. It will be necessary to define some terminology such as GDP, arable, and per capita. Students could work cooperatively in small groups solving the questions for the countries described. An alternative would be for the students to refer to the resource listed and investigate countries of their choice. The resource contains many additional data items that could be investigated in the similar ways.
Some examples are defense spending, education spending, health care costs, and trade balances.
Use class discussion time to see that the mathematics has been done correctly, and to review the skills being used. Discuss the exponential nature of population growth. Spend some class time to discuss some of the implications of population growth, gross domestic product, inflation rate, and population density. Timing Allow two periods for the completion of this activity. Resources Samuelson, Robert J. Book of Vital Word Statistics, The Economist Books .