document.write( "Question 688126: The population of a small suburban town grows exponentially and was 12 000 in 1993 and 21 000 in 1998. In what year will the population reach 36 750? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #425547 by stanbon(75887) ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! The population of a small suburban town grows exponentially and was 12 000 in 1993 and 21 000 in 1998. In what year will the population reach 36 750? \n" ); document.write( "------ \n" ); document.write( "Form : A(t) = ab^t where t is # of years after 1993. \n" ); document.write( "---------- \n" ); document.write( "Solve for \"a\" and \"b\" using (0,12000) and (5,21000). \n" ); document.write( "--------- \n" ); document.write( "Using 0,12000 you get: 12000 = ab^0 \n" ); document.write( "So a = 12000 \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "Equation: \n" ); document.write( "A(t) = 12000*b^t \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "Using (5,21000), solve for \"b\": \n" ); document.write( "-------- \n" ); document.write( "21000 = 12000*b^5 \n" ); document.write( "---- \n" ); document.write( "b^5 = 21/12 = 7/4 \n" ); document.write( "b = (7/4)^(1/5) \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "Equation: \n" ); document.write( "A(t) = 12000*(7/4)^(t/5) \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "In what year will the population reach 36 750? \n" ); document.write( "Solve: \n" ); document.write( "36750 = 12000(7/4)^(t/5) \n" ); document.write( "(7/4)^(t/5) = 3.0625 \n" ); document.write( "Take the log to solve for \"t\": \n" ); document.write( "(t/5)log(7/4) = log(3.0625) \n" ); document.write( "(t/5) = log(3.0625)/log(7/4) \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "t = 1.68 years \n" ); document.write( "=================== \n" ); document.write( "Cheers, \n" ); document.write( "Stan H. \n" ); document.write( "================== \n" ); document.write( " |