Question

The number of seniors at Freedmont High School was 241 in 1993. If the number of seniors increases exponentially at a rate of 1.7% per year, how many seniors will be in the Class of 2005?

Answer 1

To find the number of seniors in the Class of 2005, we can use the formula for exponential growth and substitute the given values. The estimated number of seniors in the Class of 2005 is approximately 312.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the number of seniors in the Class of 2005, we can use the formula for exponential growth:

P(t) = P₀ * (1 + r)ⁿ

where:

• P(t) is the final population after time t
• P₀ is the initial population
• r is the growth rate
• n is the time in years

In this case, P₀ = 241, r = 0.017 (1.7%), and n = 2005 - 1993 = 12. Substitute these values into the formula:

P(12) = 241 * (1 + 0.017)¹²

Using a calculator, we can evaluate this expression to find that there will be approximately 312.34 seniors in the Class of 2005. Since we can't have a fraction of a person, we round this to the nearest whole number, giving us an estimated 312 seniors in the Class of 2005.