Based
only on the data given, the statement appears to be untrue,
at least in the near future.
Over the
long run, however, it appears that women's
salaries may reach or exceed men's if
the trends indicated by these data continue. |
There
are several
ways to think about this problem. Your
answer depends on your assumptions.
Find the difference between men's
salaries and women's salaries in each year, then look
for a trend. Using this method, the gap appears to be
growing in favor of men:
Year |
Median
Salary:
Women |
Median
Salary:
Men |
Men's
Salaries - Women's Salaries |
1991 |
$11,580 |
$23,686 |
$12,106 |
1992 |
$11,922 |
$23,894 |
$11,972 |
1993 |
$12,234 |
$24,605 |
$12,525 |
1994 |
$12,766 |
$25,465 |
$12,371 |
1995 |
$13,821 |
$26,346 |
$12,699 |
1996 |
$14,682 |
$27,248 |
$12,566 |
1997 |
$15,573 |
$28,919 |
$13,346 |
|
|
|
Another way to think about the data is
to draw a graph with the year on the horizontal axis and
salaries on the vertical axis:
Plot the salary data for women, then connect the data
points in order. On the same graph, plot and connect the
data points for men's salary. As shown in the following
graph, mens salaries are greater than women's for
every data point. From the data
up to 1998, the two graphs look like they will never cross,
which may lead you to predict that men's salaries will
remain higher than womens. You may need more information
to predict the future. |
|
|
Alternate Solution #2:
A third way to analyze this information is to compare
the percent increase in salaries for both men and women.
For the period from 1991 to 1997, the percent increases
are:
If this trend continues, women's salaries will eventually
meet and then exceed men's salaries. |