Question

A small country emits 70,000 kilotons of carbon dioxide per year. In a recent global agreement, the country agreed to cut its carbon emissions by 2% per year for the next 14 years. In the first year of the agreement, the country will keep its emissions at 70,000 kilotons and the emissions will decrease 2% in each successive year. How many total kilotons of carbon dioxide would the country emit over the course of the 14 year period, to the nearest whole number?

Answer 1

To find the total kilotons of carbon dioxide emitted over 14 years, we calculate the yearly emissions by decreasing them by 2% each year and sum them up.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the total kilotons of carbon dioxide the country would emit over the course of the 14-year period, we need to calculate the yearly emissions and sum them up.

In the first year, the country emits 70,000 kilotons of carbon dioxide.

In the second year, the emissions decrease by 2%, which is 70,000 * 0.02 = 1,400 kilotons less. So the emissions in the second year would be 70,000 - 1,400 = 68,600 kilotons.

We can continue this pattern for the remaining years, decreasing the emissions by 2% each year. Finally, we add up the emissions for all 14 years: 70,000 + 68,600 + ... + (emissions in the 14th year) = total emissions over 14 years.

Calculating this sum will give us the total kilotons of carbon dioxide emitted over the 14-year period.