Question

The function f(x)=6000(0.986) raised to the x, where x is the time in years models a declining feral cat population how many feral cats will there be in 3 years

Answer 1

To determine the number of feral cats after 3 years, substitute x=3 into the exponential decay function f(x)=6000(0.986)^x and perform the calculation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the future population of a feral cat colony, which is modeled by an exponential decay function. The function provided is f(x)=6000(0.986)^x, where x represents the time in years. To find the number of feral cats after 3 years, we need to evaluate this function for x=3.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Substitute x=3 into the function: f(3)=6000(0.986)^3.
2. Calculate the value of (0.986)^3.
3. Multiply the result by 6000 to get the number of feral cats after 3 years.

By performing these calculations, we can predict the feral cat population at that future time point.