The population of a town is 50,000 people in the year 2000. How many people with live in the town in 2009 if the population increases at a rate of 3% each year? Round your answer to the nearest whole number.

Question

anonymous · Answer

3^9 I think?
@lgbasallote

lgbasallote · Answer

use geometric sequence
$$a_n = a_1 r^{n-1}$$
in this problem you're looking for $a_{9}$ so there are 9 terms. then your common ratio would be 0.03 because it's 3% changed to decimal. then your first term is 50,000

$$a_n = 50,000 \times 0.03^{9-1}$$
you were close heh