16. Valentina attends several meetings each day, as shown in the table below. Which of the following describes this pattern?
Answer: C
Each day, the number of meetings increases by the same percent over the previous day's number of meetings.
Valentina's pattern of attending meetings indicates that the number she attends each day grows by a consistent percentage, which suggests exponential growth rather than linear. This means that the increase is proportional to the number of meetings she attended the previous day.
A) The number of meetings increases by the same amount each day.
This option is incorrect because it implies a linear growth pattern where a fixed number is added daily. The data shows that Valentina's meetings increase by a percentage, not a constant amount, indicating a different growth pattern.
B) The number of meetings decreases by the same amount each day.
This option is also incorrect as it suggests a consistent decrease in the number of meetings, which contradicts the observed pattern of increasing meetings. The data does not support any decrease in her meeting count.
C) Each day, the number of meetings increases by the same percent over the previous day's number of meetings.
This option accurately describes the pattern observed in Valentina's meeting attendance. The consistent percentage increase each day indicates a compounding effect, which is characteristic of exponential growth.
D) Each day, the number of meetings decreases by the same percent over the previous day's number of meetings.
This option is incorrect as it suggests a consistent percentage decrease, which is not supported by the data. The pattern shows an increase, not a decrease, in the number of meetings.
Conclusion
The correct answer, option C, is definitive because it accurately reflects the pattern of exponential growth in the number of meetings Valentina attends. All other options fail to capture the essence of the data, either suggesting a linear decrease or an incorrect interpretation of the growth trend.