Question

In 1930, the population of the western United States was 12.32 million people and it has grown exponentially with a rate of change of 2.47%. Find a function which models the growth of the western United States after x years after 1930.

Answer 1

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Answer:

p(x) = 12.32(1.0247^x)

Explanation:

The population will be the product of the 1930 value and the multiplier for each year, applied a number of times equal to the number of years. The multiplier (growth factor) will be (1 +growth rate) = 1 +2.47% = 1.0247. An exponent is used to say how many times this multiplier is applied to the initial value:

p(x) = 12.32(1.0247^x) . . . . . population in millions x years after 1930