Question

A study of the annual population of toads in a county park shows the population, S(t), can be represented by the function S(t)=152(1.045)t, where the t represents the number of years since the study started. Based on the function, what is the growth rate?

Answer 1

Based on the function, the growth rate is 4.5%

Explanation:

In this question, we are given the exponential equation and we are told to deduce the growth rate.

Mathematically, we can rewrite the exponential equation as follows;

S(t) = 152(1.045)^t = 152(1 + 0.045)^t

What we see here is that we have successfully split the 1.045 to 1 + 0.045

Now, that value of 0.045 represents the growth rate.

This growth rate can be properly expressed if we make the fraction given as a percentage.

Thus the issue here is converting 0.045 to percentage

Mathematically, that would be;

0.045 = 4.5/100

This makes is 4.5%

So the growth rate we are looking for is 4.5%