<PRE><B>Question 277923</B>
equation is:


P = MT + B where:


M is the rate of growth
P is the population when T = 0.


If the population of the town is chosen to be 5000, then that makes B = 5000


If the rate of the population growth = 250, then M = 250


your equation should be:


P = 250*T + 5000


T is the number of years.


for the population to reach 7000, your formula needs to be:


7000 = 250*T + 5000


subtract 5000 from both sides of this equation to get:


2000 = 250*T


divide both sides of this equation by 250 to get:


2000/250 = T


simplify to get:


T = 8


It would take 8 years for the population that starts at 5000 to reach 7000 if it grows at a rate of 250 people per year.


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