Question 1204621:  A population of beetles are growing according to a linear growth model. The population in the third week was𝑃3 = 18, and the population after 8 weeks is 𝑃8 = 38.
 
a. Find an explicit formula for the beetle population after n weeks.
 
b. After how many weeks will the beetle population reach 82? 
 Answer by mananth(16946)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! A population of beetles are growing according to a linear growth model. The population in the third week was𝑃3 = 18, and the population after 8 weeks is 𝑃8 = 38. 
a. Find an explicit formula for the beetle population after n weeks. 
b. After how many weeks will the beetle population reach 82?
 
An arithmetic progression , the nth term is given by 
Pn = a+(n-1)d
 
𝑃3 = 18, and the population after 8 weeks is 𝑃8 = 38.
 
18 =a+(3-1)d 
18=a+2d--------------1 
38= a+(8-1)d 
38= a+7d--------------2
 
solve 1 &2 we get d=4 and a =10
 
Pn= 10+(n-1)4 
Pn = 10+4n-4 
Pn = 4n+6 
After how many weeks will the beetle population reach 82?
 
82 = 4*n+6
 
76= 4n
 
19=n
 
After 19 weeks  beetle population will reach 82
 
 
 
 
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