Twenty years ago a small town in Texas had a population of 10,000. The population has increased 8% each year since then. Predict what the population of the town will be in 10 more years.

Question

anonymous · Answer

I am horrible with percentages

anonymous · Answer

It's a bit of a vague question.

anonymous · Answer

For percentages, it's best to convert them to decimal first.  $8\%=0.08$

anonymous · Answer

All my website is is vague questions

anonymous · Answer

Yeah I'm not sure if we are supposed to use exponential growth or linear growth.

anonymous · Answer

My section is exponential

anonymous · Answer

Alright

anonymous · Answer

Okay so suppose they grow at a rate of $r$ every 10 years.

anonymous · Answer

whats the equation for it and i should be able to do it

anonymous · Answer

or formula not equation...formula...i don't want people doing all the work for me...just helping me along

anonymous · Answer

I would suggest$$
P(t) = P_0(1+r)^t
$$

anonymous · Answer

Let $t$ be in decades.

anonymous · Answer

Let $r$ be the percentage increase.

anonymous · Answer

Let $P_0$ be the initial population.

anonymous · Answer

Whoops, let $t$ be in years.

anonymous · Answer

So you need to figure out how many years it has been since the initial population, and you've got this.

anonymous · Answer

i got 21,589

anonymous · Answer

You are awesome.