Final answer:
Using population data from 2010 and 2016 and calculating the annual growth rate for both China and India, we can predict that the populations will be the same in the year 2025, approximately 15 years after 2010.
Step-by-step explanation:
To predict the approximate year when the populations of China and India were the same, we can use a mathematical approach to model the population growth of both countries. We know that in 2010, China's population was about 1.34 billion and India's was about 1.19 billion. By 2016, these figures had risen to approximately 1.38 billion and 1.29 billion, respectively.
Looking at the population increase from 2010 to 2016, we see that China's population grew by 40 million people (from 1.34 billion to 1.38 billion) and India's grew by 100 million people (from 1.19 billion to 1.29 billion). This suggests that while China's annual population growth was about 6.67 million (40 million divided by 6 years), India's was about 16.67 million (100 million divided by 6 years).
To find when the populations were the same, we can set up an equation where the populations are equal, with China starting at 1.34 billion and India at 1.19 billion. Let 'x' represent the number of years after 2010 when their populations are equal. Therefore, the equation would be:
1.34 billion + (6.67 million * x) = 1.19 billion + (16.67 million * x)
Solving for 'x', we subtract 1.34 billion from both sides, yielding:
0 = -150 million + (10 million * x)
To find 'x', we divide both sides by 10 million:
x = 150 million / 10 million
x = 15
Therefore, we can predict that approximately 15 years after 2010, which is in the year 2025, the populations of both China and India will be the same.