Final answer:
The equation for the membership P of the country club as a function of the number of years after 1996 is P = 696x + 237. The estimated membership in 2001 is 3717.
Step-by-step explanation:
To write an equation for the membership of the country club as a function of the number of years after 1996 (x), we can use the equation P = mx + b, where P represents the membership and b represents the initial membership in 1996. In this case, b = 237. Since the growth rate is 696 per year, we can set m = 696. Therefore, the equation becomes P = 696x + 237.
To estimate the membership in 2001, we need to find the value of x. Since 2001 is 5 years after 1996, x = 5. Plugging this value into the equation, we get P = 696(5) + 237 = 3480 + 237 = 3717. Therefore, the estimated membership in 2001 is 3717.
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