Question

A town's population has been growing linearly. In 2003 the population was 47,000. The population has been growing by 1200 people each year. a) Write an equation for the population, P, x years after 2003. b) Use the formula to find the population in 2009:

Answer 1

Explanation:

The population in 2003= 47000

Since the population increase by 1200 every year,

in 2004 the population will be 47000+1200

in 2005 the population will be 47000+(1200+1200) which is the same as

47000+2(1200) where 2 is 2 years after 2003,

Therefore the population x years after 2003 is 47000+x(1200).

P= 47000+1200x

b) The population at 2009 which is 6 years after 2003 will be

47000+(1200)*6=47000+7200= 54200

The population at 2009 is 54200,