document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1150642>Question 1150642</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Copper-production increased at a rate of about 4.9% per year between 1988 and 1993. In 1993, copper-production was approximately 1.801 billion kilograms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If this trend continued, what equation will <B><I><U>best</U></I></B> model the copper-production (<B>P</B>), in billions of kilograms, since 1993.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(Let <B>t</B> = 0 for 1993.) </SPAN>\n" );
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document.write( "Answer: <font size=4 color=red>P = 1.801*(1.049)^t</font>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Explanation:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The general format is <BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = a*(1+r)^t<BR>\n" );
document.write( "where<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = final amount after t years<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = starting amount<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r = growth rate in decimal form<BR>\n" );
document.write( "t = number of years that have elapsed\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In this case,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = unknown<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 1.801 (value in billions)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r = 0.049 (representing 4.9% since 4.9% = 4.9/100 = 0.049)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "t = also unknown\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So we go from<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = a*(1+r)^t<BR>\n" );
document.write( "to<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = 1.801*(1+0.049)^t<BR>\n" );
document.write( "which simplifies to<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = 1.801*(1.049)^t\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This equation only works if we assume the growth rate of 4.9% holds the same for years after 1993. </SPAN>\n" );
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