Please identify the appropriate independent and dependent variables in the following statement:
Studies have found a relationship between a country’s yearly rate of economic growth and the yearly rate of increase in airborne pollutants. It is believed that a higher rate of economic growth allows a country’s residents to have more cars and travel more, thereby releasing more airborne pollutants.
______ is the independent variable and ______ is the dependent variable.
Suppose that in the country of Sudland, when the yearly rate of economic growth fell from 3.0% to 1.5%, the yearly rate of increase in airborne pollutants fell from 6% to 5%. What is the average slope of a nonlinear curve between these points using the arc method?
Now suppose that when the yearly rate of economic growth rose from 3.5% to 4.5%, the yearly rate of increase in airborne pollutants rose from 5.5% to 7.5%. What is the average slope of a nonlinear curve between these two points using the arc method?
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between airborne pollutants and the economic growth rate?