Question

The population of a species of rabbit triples every year. This can be modeled by f(x) = 4(3)x and f(5) = 972. What does the 3 represent?

Answer 1

The digit "3" represent the rate at which the population of rabbits is increasing.

i.e. it represents the rate at which the population of rabbits triples each year.

Explanation:

It is given that:

The population of a species of rabbit triples every year.

The function which is used to represent the this function i.e. the modelling function is given by:

`f(x)=4\cdot 3^x`

where x represent the number of year.

Also,

`f(5) = 972`

We know that the exponential function is given by:

`f(x)=ab^x`

where a is the initial population and b is the rate at which the function increases or decreases.

Answer 2

The 3 represents the tripling each year