Math Activity: A Look at BRICS

image: Flags from BRICS by GovernmentZA, creative commons licensed

What are BRICS countries? Why do economists predict that they will have some of the strongest and most influential economies in the world by 2050?

Our goal is to compare and analyze data to interpret patterns for data.

To begin our exploration of these countries, we will look at data about the size of these countries and answer the following questions:

• What are the trends in the population of BRICS countries over the last 50 years?
• How do the countries compare in size (square km)?

Activity Instructions: 

1. Make of a copy of the google spreadsheet.
2. With a partner, analyze the data and add your observations about population trends and geographical size to the class padlet: Boisjoli, Kintzer, Pendse, Ro.
   
   Try to use the following math vocabulary: increase, decrease, largest, smallest, half of, doubled, twice, tripled.
3. With a partner, estimate the population growth for each country in the data tables provided. 
4. Using spreadsheet formulas, calculate the exact number for population growth. 
5. Finally, create at least two charts that answer the questions above.