The assignment is to provide a thoughtful, written analysis of the

mathematics involved in this hypothetical debate between Clinton

and Bush on Larry King Live:

+++++++++++++++++++++

King: The economy - that is, the rate of growth of the GNP - is

running downhill, and has been for some time.

Bush: How can you say that? The Gross National Product last year

increased by 4%. Furthermore, this has been achieved by keeping the

poverty rate below 5% annually.

Clinton: Yes, but the rate itself is going up, Mr. President.And what

about unemployment...

Bush: I've got you there, Mr. Clinton. During the course of my

administration, the unemployment rate fell by 2 million workers per

year.

King: Wait a minute. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has just revealed

that the current unemployment is actually INCREASING by 1.2

million workers per year. Explain how you dare make such an

outrageous claim, Mr. President.

Bush: I don't know how you developed your figures, Larry.But I

careabout jobs; I care deeply about Americans - all Americans.

They're good people - deserve the best.

Clinton: Fine, Mr. President. Let's change the subject then. Let's talk

about government spending.

Bush: I'm glad you mentioned that, Bill. I'm hopeful that in my next

term, we can reduce the rate of increase of the deficit.

Clinton: Don't you want simply to reduce the deficit altogether? Or,

even better, how about reducing the national debt? It seems to me

that this is the source of our runaway economy.

TRANSLATION:

King: d/dt (rate of growth of GNP) = GNP"(t)<0 for t <1993.

Bush: How can you say that? GNP(1991) - GNP(1990) = 0.04 GNP(1991)>0.

Moreover, poverty(1991) < 0.05 population (1991).

Clinton: Yes, but poverty'(t)>0! What about unemployment?

Bush: (unemployed in 1992 - unemployed in 1989)/3 years =

-2,000,000 workers/year.

King: Wait ... isn't it the case that unemployed'(1992) = +1,200,000

workers/year?

Bush: ??

(Try to construct an example of an unemployment function that

exhibits this phenomenon.)

Clinton: On to government spending.

Bush: I hope that, inthe future, d/dt (increase in deficit)<0. That is,

my goal is to have deficit''(t)<0 for t=1993 and beyond.

Clinton: But deficit(t) = debt'(t), so deficit''(t) = debt'''(t). Wouldn't you

prefer to have deficit'(t)<0? Or better still, why not work to make

deficit(t)<0?

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Adapted from an article which appeared in FOCUS in September of 1992, by Susan Jane

Colley.