On January 1^("st "),2014, approximately 450 thousand buildings in the United States (US) had solar panels. This number increased by a total of about 180 thousand over the next 12 months. Assuming a constant rate of change, approximately how many months after January 1^("st "),2014 would 900 thousand buildings in the US have solar panels?

Question

On January  1^("st "),2014, approximately 450 thousand buildings in the United States (US) had solar panels. This number increased by a total of about 180 thousand over the next 12 months. Assuming a constant rate of change, approximately how many months after January  1^("st "),2014 would 900 thousand buildings in the US have solar panels?

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Initial number and increase: : Determine the initial number of buildings with solar panels and the total increase over 12 months. Initial number of buildings with solar panels on January 1st, 2014: 450,000 Total increase over the next 12 months: 180,000Monthly rate of increase: : Calculate the monthly rate of increase in the number of buildings with solar panels. Monthly rate of increase = Total increase over 12 months / Number of months Monthly rate of increase = 180,000 buildings / 12 months Monthly rate of increase = 15,000 buildings per monthTotal increase needed: : Determine the total increase needed to reach 900,000 buildings from the initial 450,000 buildings. Total increase needed = Final number of buildings - Initial number of buildings Total increase needed = 900,000 buildings - 450,000 buildings Total increase needed = 450,000 buildingsNumber of months required: : Calculate the number of months required to reach the total increase needed at the calculated monthly rate of increase. Number of months = Total increase needed / Monthly rate of increase Number of months = 450,000 buildings / 15,000 buildings per month Number of months = 30 months

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