The population increase over a given year is
always calculated as a percentage of the
previous year’s population, with a population
decrease being recorded as a negative increase.
In 1990 Essex County and Union County both
experienced a population increase of more than
3 percent. In 1991 Essex County and Union
County both experienced a population increase
of 1.5 percent. In 1992 Union County
experienced a negative increase in population of
1.7 percent. Essex County had 209,100
residents in 1990 and 209,000 residents in
1992.
If the information above is accurate, which of the
following must be true?
(A) Both counties experienced positive
population increases in the years 1990
and 1991, yet both experienced negative
population increases in 1992.
(B) In 1992 more people moved from Union
County to Essex County than moved from
Essex County to Union County.
(C) In 1990 there were more people living in
Union County than in Essex County, but in
1992 there were more people living in
Essex County than in Union County.
(D) Both counties experienced negative
population increases in the years 1990
and 1991, yet both experienced positive
population increases in 1992.
(E) Both counties experienced positive
population increases in the years 1990
and 1991, yet while Essex County
experienced a positive increase in 1992,
Union County had a negative increase.