Question: An alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel, biodiesel, is derived from renewable resources such as food crops, algae, and animal oils. The table shows the recent annual percent growth in US biodiesel consumption.
(a) Find the largest time interval over which the percentage growth in the US consumption of biodiesel was an increasing function of time. Interpret what increasing means, practically speaking, in this case.
(b) Find the largest time interval over which the actual US consumption of biodiesel was an increasing function of time. Interpret what increasing means, practically speaking, in this case.