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37 votes
Find a formula for P = f(t), the size of the population that begins in year t = 0 with 2070 members and decreases at a 3.9% annual rate. Assume that time is measured in years. P = f(t) =

User Affan Ahmad
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3.1k points

1 Answer

22 votes
22 votes

P=f(t)=P(1-0.039)^t

Step-by-step explanation

Step 1

let


P=f(t)

where P represent the population, and t represents the time in years

so,

when t=0, P=2070


\begin{gathered} P=f(t) \\ 2070=f(0) \end{gathered}

Step 2

if the population decrease 3.9% every year,in decimal form


\begin{gathered} \text{3}.9\text{ =3.9/100= 0.039} \\ \end{gathered}

so,after 1 year the population is


\begin{gathered} P_1=P(1-0.039)\rightarrow Eq1 \\ P_1=P(0.961) \\ P_1=2070(0.961) \\ P_1=1989.27 \end{gathered}

now, after the 2 years


\begin{gathered} P_2=P_1(1-0.039)=P(1-0.039)(1-0.039)=P(1-0.039)^2 \\ \end{gathered}

now, after 3 years


P_3=P_2(1-0.039)=P(1-0.039)(1-0.039)(1-0.39==P(1-0.039)^3

now, we can see the function


\begin{gathered} P(1-0.039)^t\rightarrow P_f=P(1-0.039)^t \\ f(t)=P(1-0.039)^t \end{gathered}

I hope this helps you

User Stephen Mc
by
2.7k points