Interpreting Broken-Line Graphs (A): A graph illustrating the change in gold prices per ounce from 1993 to 2012, accompanied by questions to analyze trends and values.

Here are the answers to the questions based on the graph provided.

In what years did gold decrease in value?
Looking at the line, it goes down (decreases) between 1995 and 1996, and again between 1996 and 1997. After 1997, the line only goes up or stays flat. So, the price decreased during 1996 and 1997.

In what year do you think the price of gold will reach $2000 per ounce?
In 2011, the price is around $1600. In 2012, it is around $1700. The line is going up very steeply. If it keeps going up by about $100 each year, it would take about 3 more years to go from $1700 to $2000.
$1700 + 3 years = 2015.
So, a good estimate is 2015.

In what 3 years did gold increase the most?
We need to find the steepest part of the line where it goes up for three years in a row.
* From 2007 to 2010, it goes from roughly $850 to $1400 (Increase of ~$550).
* From 2008 to 2011, it goes from roughly $900 to $1600 (Increase of ~$700).
* From 2009 to 2012, it goes from roughly $1100 to $1700 (Increase of ~$600).
The biggest jump happens between 2008 and 2011. So the answer is 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 (specifically the period covering these years). If the question asks for just "3 years" as a span, the years 2009, 2010, and 2011 show a very massive continuous rise. Let's look closer at single year jumps:
* 2007-2008: Small rise.
* 2008-2009: Big rise (~$200).
* 2009-2010: Big rise (~$300).
* 2010-2011: Big rise (~$200).
The three years with the highest individual increases added together are likely 2009, 2010, and 2011.

What was the approximate price of gold from 1997 to 1999?
Look at the years 1997, 1998, and 1999 on the horizontal axis. Follow the line up. The dots for these three years are all sitting on or very close to the line marked 300 (halfway between 200 and 400). It looks slightly below 300, maybe around $280 - $300. Let's say approximately $300.

If someone bought $20,000 worth of gold in 1993, how much would that gold be worth in 2011?
1. Find the price in 1993: The graph shows it is roughly $400 per ounce.
2. Find out how many ounces were bought: $20,000 / $400 = 50 ounces.
3. Find the price in 2011: The graph shows the dot is at roughly $1600 per ounce.
4. Calculate the new value: 50 ounces x $1600 = $80,000.

*(Note: The price in 1993 might be slightly less than 400, maybe 380, and 2011 might be slightly more than 1600, maybe 1650. But using the grid lines for estimation: $400 and $1600 are the clearest readings. $1600 is exactly 4 times $400. So the value quadruples. $20,000 x 4 = $80,000.)*

Final Answer:
1. 1996 and 1997
2. 2015 (Estimate)
3. 2009, 2010, and 2011
4. Approximately $300
5. $80,000