Rare earth metals are widely used in a variety of important products (Case Study, p XXXXXXXXXXAccording to the U.S. Geological Survey, China has about 42% of the world’s reserves of rare earth metals....

Rare earth metals are widely used in a variety of important products (Case Study, p. 362). According to the U.S. Geological Survey, China has about 42% of the world’s reserves of rare earth metals. Use this information to answer the following questions.

In 2014 the global demand for rare earth metals was about 136,000 metric tons. At this annual rate of use, if China were to produce all of the world’s rare earth metals, how long would their reserves last?