SOLUTION: 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

Algebra ->  Logarithm Solvers, Trainers and Word Problems -> SOLUTION: 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      Log On


   

Question 277890: 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.
What was the initial population of the town according to the equation model?
Answer:

Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
your formula should read:

A = 1236 * (.97)^T where:

A is the future population.
T is the time in years.


The ^ indicates exponentiation.

According to the equation model, the initial population is 1236.

The general form of the equation is:

F = P * (1+G)^T where:

F = the future population
P = the present population
G = the annual growth rate
T = the number of years

In your equation:
F = A
P = 1236
G = -.03 because 1 - .03 = .97
T = number of years