A utility company in a western city of the United States expects the consumption of electricity to increase by 11%/year during the next decade, due mainly to the expected increase in population. If consumption does increase at this rate, find the amount by which the utility company will have to increase its generating capacity in order to meet the needs of the area at the end of the decade.

Question

kropot72 · Answer

Let A = initial consumption of electricity
Let D = forecast consumption of electricity in 10 years
$$D=A(1+0.11)^{10}$$
$$\frac{D}{A}=(1.11)^{10}$$
The amount of increase is the ratio of D/A which can be found from the last equation.

anonymous · Answer

That's what I got the first time but it says it's wrong :/

kropot72 · Answer

What was your answer?

anonymous · Answer

Well I was supposed to put it into percentage and I'm supposed to find the amount increased which means I needed to subtract one which would be 1.84 which would be 184%

kropot72 · Answer

The ratio of D/A = 2.8394 to four decimal places. The forecast capacity in 10 years needs to be 283.94% of the initial capacity. The increase in capacity needs to be 183.94% of the initial capacity

anonymous · Answer

That worked! Wow, it said to round to the nearest whole number which apparently isn't true! Thank you for the help!

kropot72 · Answer

You're welcome :)