A town has a population of 120,900 and shrinks at a rate of 4.7% every year. Which equation represents the town's population after 8 years?P=120,900(1−0.047)P=120,900(1+0.047)8P=120,900(1−0.47)8P=120,900(0.953)8
Q. A town has a population of 120,900 and shrinks at a rate of 4.7% every year. Which equation represents the town's population after 8 years?P=120,900(1−0.047)P=120,900(1+0.047)8P=120,900(1−0.47)8P=120,900(0.953)8
Identify initial population and rate: Identify the initial population and the annual shrinkage rate. The initial population is given as 120,900, and the annual shrinkage rate is 4.7%.
Convert shrinkage rate to decimal: Convert the annual shrinkage rate from a percentage to a decimal.To convert a percentage to a decimal, divide by 100.4.7% as a decimal is 0.047.
Determine population decrease factor: Determine the population decrease factor for one year.Since the population decreases by 4.7% each year, the factor by which the population decreases annually is 1−0.047.
Write equation for population after 8 years: Write the equation that represents the population after 8 years.The population after 8 years can be found by multiplying the initial population by the decrease factor raised to the power of the number of years.P=initial population×(decrease factor)(number of years)P=120,900×(1−0.047)8
Simplify decrease factor: Simplify the decrease factor. 1−0.047=0.953
Substitute factor into equation: Substitute the simplified decrease factor into the equation. P=120,900×(0.953)8
Verify equation against options: Verify that the equation matches one of the given options.The correct equation is P=120,900×(0.953)8, which matches the last option.
More problems from Exponential growth and decay: word problems