Analyzing Production Increase Trends Over Years

The question asks us to identify the specific year(s) when the company's production saw an increase of more than 10% compared to the production in the immediately preceding year. We need to examine the production data provided for the years 2015 through 2019.

Production Data Table

Calculating Percentage Production Increase

To find the years where production increased by more than 10%, we will calculate the percentage increase for each year relative to the previous year's production. The formula for percentage increase is:

Percentage Increase = $ \left( \frac{\text{Current Year Production} - \text{Previous Year Production}}{\text{Previous Year Production}} \right) \times 100 $

Year 2016 Calculation:

• Production in 2015: 1250 thousand tonnes
• Production in 2016: 1400 thousand tonnes
• Increase in production: $ 1400 - 1250 = 150 $ thousand tonnes
• Percentage increase = $ \left( \frac{150}{1250} \right) \times 100 $
• Percentage increase = $ 0.12 \times 100 = 12\% $
• Since 12% is greater than 10%, the condition is met for 2016.

Year 2017 Calculation:

• Production in 2016: 1400 thousand tonnes
• Production in 2017: 1450 thousand tonnes
• Increase in production: $ 1450 - 1400 = 50 $ thousand tonnes
• Percentage increase = $ \left( \frac{50}{1400} \right) \times 100 $
• Percentage increase = $ \left( \frac{5000}{1400} \right) \% = \left( \frac{50}{14} \right) \% = \left( \frac{25}{7} \right) \% \approx 3.57\% $
• Since approximately 3.57% is not greater than 10%, the condition is not met for 2017.

Year 2018 Calculation:

• Production in 2017: 1450 thousand tonnes
• Production in 2018: 1500 thousand tonnes
• Increase in production: $ 1500 - 1450 = 50 $ thousand tonnes
• Percentage increase = $ \left( \frac{50}{1450} \right) \times 100 $
• Percentage increase = $ \left( \frac{5000}{1450} \right) \% = \left( \frac{500}{145} \right) \% = \left( \frac{100}{29} \right) \% \approx 3.45\% $
• Since approximately 3.45% is not greater than 10%, the condition is not met for 2018.

Year 2019 Calculation:

• Production in 2018: 1500 thousand tonnes
• Production in 2019: 1600 thousand tonnes
• Increase in production: $ 1600 - 1500 = 100 $ thousand tonnes
• Percentage increase = $ \left( \frac{100}{1500} \right) \times 100 $
• Percentage increase = $ \left( \frac{10000}{1500} \right) \% = \left( \frac{100}{15} \right) \% = \left( \frac{20}{3} \right) \% \approx 6.67\% $
• Since approximately 6.67% is not greater than 10%, the condition is not met for 2019.

Conclusion on Production Increase

Based on the calculations, the only year where the production increased by more than 10% compared to the previous year is 2016 (12% increase).

Final Answer Selection

Comparing our findings with the given options:

• Option 1: 2016
• Option 2: 2018, 2019
• Option 3: 2019
• Option 4: 2017, 2018

Our analysis shows that only 2016 satisfies the condition. Therefore, the correct option is 1.