SOLUTION: I would appreciate if someone could take time out of their day and help me with my question please. Year: 1990-1995-2000-2005-2010 Pop : 300 -686 -1061-1436-1811 The data fo

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: I would appreciate if someone could take time out of their day and help me with my question please. Year: 1990-1995-2000-2005-2010 Pop : 300 -686 -1061-1436-1811 The data fo      Log On


   

Question 893386: I would appreciate if someone could take time out of their day and help me with my question please.
Year: 1990-1995-2000-2005-2010
Pop : 300 -686 -1061-1436-1811
The data for the population for a small town is given in the table above. What was the town's population in 2009?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Year: 1990-1995-2000-2005-2010
Pop : 300 -686 -1061-1436-1811
The data for the population for a small town is given in the table above.
What was the town's population in 2009?
:
Treat the yr 1990 as 0, then the yr 2010 is 20
Use the 1st and last data pairs to find the slope: m = %28%28y2-y1%29%29%2F%28%28x2-x1%29%29
x1 = 0, y1 = 300
x2 = 20, y2 = 1811
m = %28%281811-300%29%29%2F%28%2820-0%29%29 = 1511%2F20 = 76 is the approx slope
:
Using the slope intercept form we have an equation
we know y = 300 when x = 0
y = 76x + 300 where
x = no. of yrs from 1990
y = the population
" What was the town's population in 2009?" x = 19
y =76(19) + 300
y = 1444 + 300
y = 1744 people in 2009
:
:
You can see how accurate this is by find find the pop in 2000 (x=10)
See how it compares to the given data
y = 76(10) + 300
y = 760 + 300
y = 1060, very close
:
You can see this can be used for any year after 1990.