Question

2.

2.
Which of the following functions would give the population Plt) as a function
of t, in years, given that the initial population is 2,500 and that the population
is growing at an annual rate of 4%?
(1) P(t)=2500(0.96)
(3) P(t)=2,500(1.04)
(2) P(t)=(1.04) +2,500
(4) P(t)= 1.04t +2,500

Answer 1

`P(t)=2500(1.04)^t`

Explanation:

None of your proposed answers has an exponent t.

Here's the logic behind the answer:

Year 0: pop. = 2500

Year 1: pop. = 2500(1.04) That is 104% of the previous year's pop.

Year 2: pop. = 2500(1.04)(1.04) = 2500(1.04)^2

Year 3: pop. = 2500(1.04)^2 x (1.04) = 2500(1.04)^3

See the pattern? The exponent matches the year number.