The current student population of the Brentwood Student Center
is 2,000. The enrollment at the center increases at a rate of 4% each
year. To the nearest whole number, what will the student population
be closest to in 3 years?
(1) 2,240 (3) 5,488
(2) 2,250 (4) 6,240

Question

The current student population of the Brentwood Student Center 
is 2,000. The enrollment at the center increases at a rate of 4% each 
year. To the nearest whole number, what will the student population 
be closest to in 3 years?
(1) 2,240 (3) 5,488
(2) 2,250 (4) 6,240

anonymous · Answer

i don't understand these type of question im lost!!!

anonymous · Answer

Find population growth in first year.

2000 x 4% = 80

Add this to initial population.

2000 + 80 = 2080 = population in 1 year

Find population growth in second year.

2080 x 4% = 83.2

Add this to year 2 population.

2080 + 83.2 = 2163.2 = population in 2 years

Find population growth in third year.

2163.2 x 4% = 86.5 (approximate)

Add this to year 3 population.

2163.2 + 86.5 = 2249.7 = population in 3 years

Round the answer to 2,250.

anonymous · Answer

thank you so much!! :)

anonymous · Answer

wow
you can also try this
to increase a number by $4\%$ multiply it by $1.04$
to increase it by $4\%$ three times in a row, multiply it by $(1.04)^3$

anonymous · Answer

gonna save you a lot of work if you have to find the population in ten years rather than in 3