$$ \begin{array}{|l|c|c|} \hline & \begin{array}{c} \text { Ranked } \\ \text { Position } \\ 2005 \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { (Change } \\ \text { from } \\ 2004) \end{array} \\ \hline \text { Singapore } & 1 & (+1) \\ \hline \text { USA } & 2 & (-1) \\ \hline \text { South Korea } & 4 & (-1) \\ \hline \text { Canada } & 6 & (+2) \\ \hline \text { Mexico } & 8 & (-2) \\ \hline \text { China } & 41 & (+9) \\ \hline \text { France } & 20 & (-3) \\ \hline \end{array} $$ Information technology ranking index Which statement(s) can you infer as true? A. France in 2004 was ranked \(23 \mathrm{rd}(23-3=20)\). B. In 2004 Mexico occupied Canada's position. C. The United States and South Korea have both slipped down the index. D. In 2004 China was ranked 50th. E. Singapore has returned to the top of the index.

Step by step solution

01

Analyze France's Change in Rank

France is ranked 20th in 2005 and its change from 2004 is given as -3. This means France was ranked 23rd in 2004. This makes Statement A true.

02

Compare Mexico and Canada's 2004 Positions

Canada's current position in 2005 is 6th with a +2 change from 2004, meaning it was 8th in 2004. Mexico's current position in 2005 is 8th with a -2 change from 2004, meaning it was 6th in 2004. Thus, in 2004, Mexico occupied Canada's position in 2005. This verifies Statement B is true.

03

Verify Changes for USA and South Korea

USA moved from the 1st position in 2004 to the 2nd in 2005, a -1 change. South Korea moved from the 3rd position in 2004 to the 4th in 2005, a -1 change as well. Both countries have indeed slipped down the ranking index. Therefore, Statement C is true.

04

Calculate China's 2004 Rank

China's current ranking in 2005 is 41st with a +9 change. This means China was ranked 50th in 2004. This makes Statement D true.

05

Confirm Singapore's Position

Singapore is ranked 1st in 2005 with a +1 change from 2004. This implies Singapore was not in the top position in 2004 but has returned to the top in 2005. Therefore, Statement E is true.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

information technology ranking

Information technology ranking refers to the system used to evaluate and order countries based on their information technology capabilities. This often involves looking at factors such as internet access, digital infrastructure, and technological adoption rates among the population. The provided exercise involves analyzing the rankings of various countries in 2005 compared to their positions in 2004. Each country's performance is indexed to show improvements or declines, expressed as changes in their rank position. Understanding these shifts can give insights into how different nations are progressing technologically.

ranking index analysis

Ranking index analysis is the process of examining changes in ranked positions to draw meaningful conclusions. Analyzing the index involves:

• Identifying the current and previous ranks
• Calculating the difference (delta) between the years
• Interpreting the implications of these differences

For example, in the exercise, France's movement from 23rd to 20th demonstrates a -3 change. This decline in ranks shows an improvement (counter-intuitive but a lower numeric rank is better in most indexes). Similarly, China’s leap from 50th to 41st with a +9 change shows significant improvement. To analyze the rankings, we must correctly articulate these changes and infer their meaning within the context provided – whether it signifies technological advancement or setbacks.

step-by-step solution

Addressing a problem step-by-step ensures a comprehensive breakdown of complex tasks. In the given ranking problem:
1. **France's Change**: From 20th in 2005 with a -3 change, we deduce it was 23rd in 2004.
2. **Mexico vs. Canada in 2004**: By analyzing Mexico’s and Canada's changes (+2 for Canada leading to 6th in 2005, -2 for Mexico leading to 8th in 2005), we discover their 2004 ranks. Canada was 8th, and Mexico was 6th.
3. **USA and South Korea**: Both nations slid down by one position, confirming the statement about their decline.
4. **China’s Rank**: A +9 change to 41st in 2005 traces back to 50th in 2004.
5. **Singapore's Return to Top**: Moving from 2nd to 1st with a +1 change confirms this conclusion. By following these steps, the solution unravels logically and sequentially, elucidating each inference drawn from the data.

data inference

Data inference involves extracting conclusions based on data analysis. From the exercise:
1. **France**: Was 23rd in 2004, now 20th – confirming it improved.
2. **Mexico and Canada**: Their 2004 positions swapped in 2005. Mexico moved from 6th to 8th while Canada from 8th to 6th – proving positional interchange.
3. **USA and South Korea**: Both slipped down the ranks by one position, indicating a relative decline.
4. **China**: From 50th to 41st – significant advancement.
5. **Singapore**: Back to 1st from 2nd – reaffirming its top position. These inferences are critical to understanding how each nation’s technological standing has evolved, helping students grasp the nuances of ranking analysis and index interpretation.