Final answer:
The rabbit population from two years ago with an annual growth rate of 4%, apply the formula for exponential decay to the current population of 32,448. The computation reveals that the population two years ago was approximately 30,000 rabbits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked how to calculate the rabbit population from two years ago given a current population of 32,448 and an annual growth rate of 4%.
To find the population two years ago, we need to reverse the growth process using the formula for exponential decay:
P0 = P / (1 + r)n
where P0 is the initial population, P is the current population, r is the growth rate as a decimal, and n is the number of years.
In this case, P is 32,448, r is 0.04 (4% as a decimal), and n is 2:
P0 = 32,448 / (1 + 0.04)2
P0 = 32,448 / (1.04)2
P0 = 32,448 / 1.0816
P0 = 30,000 (approximately)
Therefore, the population of rabbits two years ago was approximately 30,000.