Distinguish totals, shares and per-person measures
The idea
State whether the question asks for total size, a proportion or an amount per person.
Step by step
- State whether the question asks for total size, a proportion or an amount per person.
- Use share = part ÷ whole and per-person value = total ÷ population.
- A mean does not reveal the entire distribution or every individual’s circumstances.
Example
A researcher asks which region produced more wheat altogether. Which measure answers that question?
Answer
the total amount
The question is about overall production, not population-adjusted output.
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Invent two regions with different populations and output. Compare both totals and output per person.
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