Question

A town's population is 14,000, and it is INCREASING by 160 people every year. A nearby town has population of 24,000 and is DECREASING by 200 every year. In about how many years will the populations of the towns be equal?

Answer 1

Answer: it will take 27.8 years for the populations of the towns to be equal.

Explanation:

Let x represent the number of years it will take for the populations of the towns to be equal.

A town's population is 14,000, and it is INCREASING by 160 people every year. This means that the town's population after x years is

160x + 14000

A nearby town has population of 24,000 and is DECREASING by 200 every year. This means that the town's population after x years is

24000 - 200x

For the population to be the same, the number of years would be

160x + 14000 = 24000 - 200x

160x + 200x = 24000 - 14000

360x = 10000

x = 10000/360

x = 27.8 years