Question

Alex starts with a population of 1,000. If the population grows by 10% each year, what will the population be after 5 years?

a) 1,610
b) 1,610,000
c) 1,610,000,000
d) 1,000,000,000,000

Answer 1

Calculating the future population after 5 years with a 10% annual growth rate, using the formula for compound growth, results in a population of approximately 1,610, which corresponds to answer choice a) 1,610.

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this question, we need to calculate the population growth over 5 years with a 10% annual growth rate. We use the formula for compound growth, which is P = P0(1 + r)^t, where P is the future population, P0 is the initial population, r is the growth rate, and t is the time in years. Plugging in the numbers, the calculation is as follows:

P = 1000(1 + 0.10)^5

P = 1000(1.10)^5

P = 1000(1.61051)

P = 1610.51

After rounding down to the nearest whole number, as we cannot have a fraction of an individual, the population would be approximately 1,610 after 5 years. Therefore, the correct answer is a) 1,610.