Let X, Y, and Z denote the number of international students, in thousands, that Company U predicted would be studying...

Phase 1: Owning the Dataset

Visual Representation

Let's use a timeline to show the progression of international students:

2014-2015 -------- 2019-2020 -------- 2024-2025
    X                Y=1,124              Z
    ?                                     ?
    
    Constraint: Z > X (increasing trend)

Given Information

• X = international students in 2014-2015 (in thousands)
• Y = international students in 2019-2020 = 1,124 thousand
• Z = international students in 2024-2025 (in thousands)
• Average of X, Y, and Z = 1,128
• Z > X (more students predicted in 2024-2025 than 2014-2015)

Phase 2: Understanding the Question

Key Mathematical Relationship

From the average formula:

• \(\mathrm{(X + Y + Z) ÷ 3 = 1,128}\)
• \(\mathrm{X + Y + Z = 3,384}\)
• Substituting Y = 1,124: \(\mathrm{X + 1,124 + Z = 3,384}\)
• Therefore: \(\mathrm{X + Z = 2,260}\)

Constraints Summary

We need to find X and Z such that:

1. \(\mathrm{X + Z = 2,260}\)
2. \(\mathrm{Z > X}\) (growth constraint)
3. Both X and Z must be from the given choices

Phase 3: Finding the Answer

Systematic Check

Let's check each possible value for X:

If X = 910:

• \(\mathrm{Z = 2,260 - 910 = 1,350}\)
• Is 1,350 in our choices? Yes ✓
• Is Z > X? Is 1,350 > 910? Yes ✓
• Stop here - we found our answer

Our verification:

• \(\mathrm{X + Z = 910 + 1,350 = 2,260}\) ✓
• \(\mathrm{Average = (910 + 1,124 + 1,350) ÷ 3 = 3,384 ÷ 3 = 1,128}\) ✓
• \(\mathrm{Z > X: 1,350 > 910}\) ✓

Phase 4: Solution

Final Answer:

• X = 910
• Z = 1,350

These values satisfy all requirements: they sum to 2,260, maintain the average of 1,128, and show growth from 2014-2015 to 2024-2025.