Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is a percentage problem. We are given a part (total health care expenditures) and what percentage of the whole (Gross Domestic Product, GDP) that part represents. We need to calculate the whole.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
The relationship is: Part = Percent \(\times\) Whole.
We can rearrange this to find the whole:
\[ \text{Whole} = \frac{\text{Part}}{\text{Percent}} \]
In this problem:
Part = Total health care expenditures = $550 billion.
Percent = 11%.
Whole = Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let GDP be the gross domestic product. We are given:
\[ $550 \text{ billion} = 11% \text{ of GDP} \]
Let's write this as an equation:
\[ 550 = 0.11 \times \text{GDP} \]
To solve for GDP, divide both sides by 0.11:
\[ \text{GDP} = \frac{550}{0.11} \]
To make the division easier, multiply the numerator and denominator by 100 to remove the decimal:
\[ \text{GDP} = \frac{550 \times 100}{0.11 \times 100} = \frac{55000}{11} \]
Now, perform the division:
\[ \frac{55}{11} = 5 \]
So,
\[ \text{GDP} = 5,000 \]
The gross domestic product was approximately $5,000 billion.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The GDP in 1989 was approximately 5,000 billion dollars.