Table 1 shows information collected by a car-wash business after installing a water-recycling system controlled by sensors. The system measures the quality ...
Question 1 Report
Table 1 shows information collected by a car-wash business after installing a water-recycling system controlled by sensors. The system measures the quality of used water and reuses it where suitable. The owner wants to judge whether the technology has reduced operating costs.
| Month | Cars washed | Fresh water used / m3 | Water cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1,800 | 324 | $648 |
| February | 1,850 | 259 | $518 |
| March | 1,900 | 247 | $494 |
(a) Show the reduction in water cost from January to March. [1]
(b) Identify one reason why comparing fresh water used is more useful than comparing only the number of cars washed. [1]
(c) Explain one non-financial benefit of the recycling technology. [2]
Answer Details
(a) Calculate the reduction in water cost:
\[\$648-\$494=\$154\]
Water cost fell by $154. [1]
(b) The number of cars washed changed from 1,800 to 1,900. Comparing fresh-water use is therefore more useful because it shows the effect of the recycling system more directly than output alone. [1]
(c) A non-financial benefit is that less water is wasted, reducing environmental impact. This conserves a scarce natural resource and may also improve the business’s environmental reputation. [2]
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