Analyzing Oil Import Data from Iraq and Venezuela

This question asks us to calculate the ratio of the average oil imports from Iraq to the average oil imports from Venezuela over a five-year period (2015 to 2019), based on the provided table. To find the ratio of averages, we first need to calculate the total oil import for each country over the given years and then find their respective averages.

Understanding the Data Table

The table presents the oil import data in million tonnes for six different countries, including Iraq and Venezuela, from the year 2015 to 2019.

Calculating Total Oil Import for Iraq

We need to sum the oil imports for Iraq for the years 2015 through 2019.

Total Import (Iraq) = Import (2015) + Import (2016) + Import (2017) + Import (2018) + Import (2019)
Total Import (Iraq) = ${15.8 + 14.4 + 15.0 + 17.2 + 24.6}$ million tonnes
Total Import (Iraq) = ${87.0}$ million tonnes

Calculating Average Oil Import for Iraq

The average import is the total import divided by the number of years, which is 5 (2015 to 2019).

Average Import (Iraq) = ${ \frac{\text{Total Import (Iraq)}}{\text{Number of Years}} }$
Average Import (Iraq) = ${ \frac{87.0}{5} }$ million tonnes
Average Import (Iraq) = ${17.4}$ million tonnes

Calculating Total Oil Import for Venezuela

Next, we sum the oil imports for Venezuela for the same years.

Total Import (Venezuela) = Import (2015) + Import (2016) + Import (2017) + Import (2018) + Import (2019)
Total Import (Venezuela) = ${7.2 + 7.6 + 7.3 + 10.3 + 9.6}$ million tonnes
Total Import (Venezuela) = ${42.0}$ million tonnes

Calculating Average Oil Import for Venezuela

The average import for Venezuela is the total import divided by 5 years.

Average Import (Venezuela) = ${ \frac{\text{Total Import (Venezuela)}}{\text{Number of Years}} }$
Average Import (Venezuela) = ${ \frac{42.0}{5} }$ million tonnes
Average Import (Venezuela) = ${8.4}$ million tonnes

Calculating the Ratio of Averages

We need to find the ratio of the average oil import from Iraq to the average oil import from Venezuela.

Ratio = Average Import (Iraq) : Average Import (Venezuela)
Ratio = ${17.4 : 8.4}$

Simplifying the Ratio

To simplify the ratio ${17.4 : 8.4}$, we can first multiply both sides by 10 to remove the decimals:

Ratio = ${174 : 84}$

Now, we find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 174 and 84. Both numbers are divisible by 2:

${174 \div 2 = 87}$
${84 \div 2 = 42}$
Ratio = ${87 : 42}$

Both 87 and 42 are divisible by 3:

${87 \div 3 = 29}$
${42 \div 3 = 14}$
Ratio = ${29 : 14}$

The numbers 29 and 14 have no common factors other than 1 (since 29 is a prime number and 14 is not divisible by 29). So, the ratio is simplified to ${29 : 14}$.

Conclusion

The ratio of the average oil imports from Iraq to that from Venezuela for all the years together is ${29 : 14}$.

Revision Table: Oil Import Averages

Additional Information: Data Interpretation Ratios

Ratios are often used in data interpretation questions to compare quantities. When dealing with averages, calculating the ratio of averages involves:

• Calculating the sum of values for each category over the specified period.
• Calculating the average for each category by dividing the sum by the number of periods.
• Forming the ratio using the calculated averages.
• Simplifying the ratio to its lowest terms by dividing both parts by their greatest common divisor.

Understanding how to calculate averages and simplify ratios is crucial for solving data interpretation problems efficiently and accurately.