SOLUTION: In 1990, the population of the Midwest was about 60 million. During the 1990s, the population of this area increased an average of about 0.4 million per year. The population of t

Question 1109525: In 1990, the population of the Midwest was about 60 million. During the 1990s, the population of
this area increased an average of about 0.4 million per year.
The population of the West was about 53 million in 1990. The population of this area increased an
average of about 1 million per year during the 1990s.
Assume that the rate of growth of these areas remains the same. Find the equation of the system and estimate when the population of
the West would be equal to the population of the Midwest.

Found 2 solutions by Boreal, josmiceli:
Answer by Boreal(15235) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Midwest population is 60+0.4x, where x is number of years after 1990
West population is 53+x
they are equal when 53+x=60+0.4x
0.6x=7
x=11 2/3 years or August 2002.
Midwest will be 64.67 million
West will be 64.67 million
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You are given a point and the slope
for both MW and W populations
----------------------------------
For MW:
( 0, 60 )

---------------
For W:
( 0, 53 )

---------------
Time in yrs is plotted on the horizontal axis as
Population in millions is plotted on the vertical axis as
The given points are vertical axis intercepts.
---------------
For MW:

For W:

---------------
Set the populations,
equal to eachother

----------------
The populations will be the same in
1990 + 11.667 yrs = 2001 and 8 months
----------------
check:

and

OK
RELATED QUESTIONS
The population of a country has been serveral decades. In, 1990 ,the population was... (answered by josmiceli)
during the decade of the 1990s, and into the 2000s, Las Vegas, Nevada, was the fastest... (answered by ikleyn)
The population of a country has been decreasing for several decades. In 1990, the... (answered by jorel555)
In 2010, the population of a large city was 42.1 million. This represents an 11%... (answered by Boreal)
The population of a country has been decreasing for several decades. In 1990, the... (answered by Boreal)
The population of a country has been increasing for several decades. In 1990, the... (answered by josmiceli)
The population of a country has been increasing for several decades. In 1990, the... (answered by josgarithmetic)
In 2000, the population of Charleston, South Carolina, was 116,300. During the 1990s, its (answered by josmiceli)
In 1990 the population of Anchorage Alaska was about 226000 and increasing at an annual... (answered by josmiceli)