document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=277890>Question 277890</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The population of a small town has been gradually decreasing over the past number of years.  The equation: A = 1236(.97)t, where t is time in years, models the decrease in the town’s population.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "What was the initial population of the town according to the equation model?\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Answer:  <BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #202310 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=202310\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> your formula should read:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "A = 1236 * (.97)^T where:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "A is the future population.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "T is the time in years.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The ^ indicates exponentiation.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "According to the equation model, the initial population is 1236.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The general form of the equation is:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "F = P * (1+G)^T where:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "F = the future population<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = the present population<BR>\n" );
document.write( "G = the annual growth rate<BR>\n" );
document.write( "T = the number of years\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "In your equation:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "F = A<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = 1236<BR>\n" );
document.write( "G = -.03 because 1 - .03 = .97<BR>\n" );
document.write( "T = number of years\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );