SOLUTION: Thanks in advanced! The current population of a town is 10,000. If the population, P, increases by 20% each year, which equation could be used to find the population after t yea

Question 1026431: Thanks in advanced!
The current population of a town is 10,000. If the population, P, increases by 20% each year, which equation could be used to find the population after t years?
P = 10,000(0.2)t.
P = 10,000(0.8)t
P = 10,000(1.2)t
P = 10,000(1.8)t
Answer by Theo(13342) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
you must mean raised to the t power.

your possible selections are:

P = 10,000(0.2)^t.
P = 10,000(0.8)^t
P = 10,000(1.2)^t
P = 10,000(1.8)^t

th4 symbol ^ indicates exponentiation.

a 20% increase year means that 10,000 is multiplied by .2 and than added to 10,000 to get:

year 0 = 10,000
year 1 = 10,000 + .2 * 10,000 = 10,000 * 1.2
year 2 = (10,000 * 1.2) * 1.2 = 10,000 * 1.2^2
year 3 = (10,000 * 1.2^2) * 1.2 = 10,000 * 1.2^3.

t represents the exponent.

the correct formula is P = 10,000(1.2)^t

that's your third selection.
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