Question

In 1995, the moose population in a park was measured to be 6900. By 1997, the population was measured again to be 8700. If the population continues to change linearly, find an equation for the moose population, P, as a function of t, the years since 1989.

Answer 1

P = 900t +1500

Explanation:

You are given two pairs of values (t, P):

(6, 6900) and (8, 8700)

You can use these in the 2-point form of the equation for a line:

y = (y2 -y1)/(x2 -x1)(x -x1) +y1

Filling in the values, we have ...

P = (8700 -6900)/(8 -6)(t -6) +6900

P = 1800/2(t -6) +6900 . . . . simplify a bit

P = 900t + 1500 . . . . . an equation for moose population since 1989