Question

The Michigan veteran population in 1990 was 14.2% and in 2000 was 12.4%.

Let P represent the percent of Michiganders who were veterans and t represent the years since 1990. Find a linear model of this situation, rounding to two decimal places.

Answer 1

Decrease in population from 1990 to 2000 was 14.2 - 12.4 = 1.8

Number of years = 2000 - 1990 = 10

`Decrease ratio = (1.8)/(10)= 0.18`

Since the population is decreasing, decreasing factor = - 0.18.

Hence, the linear model of the situation is P = 14.2 - 0.18t.

Check:

If t = 10, then

P = 14.2 - 0.18(10)

= 14.2 - 1.8

= 12.4