Question

The population of a city is increasing at a rate of 4% each year. In 2000, there were 236,000 people in the city. Write an exponential growth function to model this situation. Then find the population in 2009.

Answer 1

A = 236,000 (1+ 0.04)^9

335,902 people in 2009

Explanation:

Hi, to answer this question we have to apply an exponential growth function:

A = P (1 + r) t

Where:

p = original population (in 2000)

r = growing rate (decimal form) = 4/100 = 0.04

t= years

A = population after t years

Replacing with the values given:

A = 236,000 (1+ 0.04) ^t

To find the population in 2009:

We have to calculate the number of years passed since 2000: (2009-2000 = 9 years =t)

Substituting t=9 in the function:

A = 236,000 (1+ 0.04)^9

A =335,902 people

Feel free to ask for more if needed or if you did not understand something.