The table shows the number of males (M) and females (F), in thousands, in Towns X and Y from 2018 to 2022.

Year	X Males	X Females	Y Males	Y Females
2018	50	49	53	50
2019	52	49	54	52
2020	55	52	55	54
2021	53	53	58	56
2022	55	52	62	55

For Town Y, the percentage increase in the number of females for a given year with reference to the previous year is maximum in the year

A2022

B2021

C2020

D2019 ✓ Correct

Correct answer: (D) 2019

Explanation

The maximum percentage rise in Town Y females is in 2019, so the answer is 2019.

In 2019 females rose from 50 to 52, a rise of 2 on 50, which is 4%.

In 2020 they rose from 52 to 54, a rise of 2 on 52, which is about 3.84%.

In 2021 they rose from 54 to 56, a rise of 2 on 54, which is about 3.70%.

In 2022 they fell from 56 to 55, so that is a decrease of about 1.79%.

The highest positive percentage change is therefore 4% in 2019.

Equal absolute rises give a larger percentage on a smaller base, which is why 2019 leads.

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