The graph shows the cumulative global wind capacity (the capacity for generating electricity with wind turbines), in megawatts, as of...

Owning the Dataset

Table 1: Text Analysis

Table 2: Chart Analysis

Key Insights

1. Global cumulative wind capacity rose every year from 2009 (159,000 MW) to 2013 (318,100 MW), doubling in five years.
2. The largest absolute increase occurred from 2011 to 2012 (growth of 45,100 MW).
3. The highest percentage growth occurred from 2009 to 2010 (about \(24.5\%\) increase).
4. The upward trend reflects rapid, sustained scaling of wind energy worldwide during this period.

Step-by-Step Solution

Question 1: Greatest Absolute Yearly Increase

Complete Statement:

The greatest one-year increase in megawatts of wind capacity occurred in [BLANK 1]

Breaking Down the Statement

• Statement Breakdown 1:
  • Key Phrase: greatest one-year increase
    • Meaning: Find the largest single-year change (difference) in wind capacity.
    • Relation to Chart: Look for the biggest jump in megawatts from one year to the next on the chart.
    • Important Implications: We measure actual change in megawatts, not a percentage.
• Statement Breakdown 2:
  • Key Phrase: in megawatts of wind capacity
    • Meaning: The measurement is in megawatts (MW), not percent growth.
    • Relation to Chart: We use the numerical values labeled on the bars (megawatts) for the calculation.
    • Important Implications: No need to calculate percent change; use the difference between the values directly.

What is needed: The year with the largest increase in total wind capacity (measured in megawatts) from the previous year.

Solution:

• Condensed Solution Implementation:
  Subtract each year's value from the value of the next year to get annual increases.
• Necessary Data points:
  Cumulative world wind electricity-generating capacity (in MW): 2009: 159,000; 2010: 198,000; 2011: 238,100; 2012: 283,200; 2013: 318,100
  • Calculations Estimations:
    2010-2009: \(198,000 - 159,000 = 39,000\) MW; 2011-2010: \(238,100 - 198,000 = 40,100\) MW; 2012-2011: \(283,200 - 238,100 = 45,100\) MW; 2013-2012: \(318,100 - 283,200 = 34,900\) MW
  • Comparison to Answer Choices:
    45,100 MW (from 2011 to 2012) is the greatest one-year increase. That means the answer is 2012.

FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: 2012

Question 2: Greatest Percentage Yearly Increase

Complete Statement:

and the greatest one-year percent increase in wind capacity occurred in [BLANK 2]

Breaking Down the Statement

• Statement Breakdown 1:
  • Key Phrase: greatest one-year percent increase
    • Meaning: Find the largest percent change in wind capacity between two consecutive years.
    • Relation to Chart: Use the same year-to-year data, but calculate each increase as a percent of the previous year's value.
• Statement Breakdown 2:
  • Key Phrase: in wind capacity
    • Meaning: Again, wind capacity is the measure, but now as a percentage growth.
    • Relation to Chart: Apply the percent change formula to the capacity numbers.

What is needed: The year with the highest percent increase in wind capacity from the previous year.

Solution:

• Condensed Solution Implementation:
  Calculate the percent change for each year: \(\frac{\text{next year} - \text{this year}}{\text{this year}} \times 100\%\)
• Necessary Data points:
  2009: 159,000 MW; 2010: 198,000 MW; 2011: 238,100 MW; 2012: 283,200 MW; 2013: 318,100 MW
  • Calculations Estimations:
    2010: \(\frac{198,000 - 159,000}{159,000} \times 100\% \approx 24.5\%\); 2011: \(\frac{238,100 - 198,000}{198,000} \times 100\% \approx 20.3\%\); 2012: \(\frac{283,200 - 238,100}{238,100} \times 100\% \approx 18.9\%\); 2013: \(\frac{318,100 - 283,200}{283,200} \times 100\% \approx 12.3\%\)
  • Comparison to Answer Choices:
    \(24.5\%\) (from 2009 to 2010) is the largest one-year percent increase, so 2010 is the answer.

FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: 2010

Summary

To solve, compare absolute megawatt increases and percent increases for each year. 2012 had the greatest absolute increase, but 2010 had the greatest percent increase, since percentage growth is higher when starting from a smaller base.

Question Independence Analysis

Each part focuses on a different measure (absolute vs. percent increase). Solving one does not answer the other. They are independent and require separate calculations.