A town has a population of 1,000 people at time t=0. For circumstances a and b, write a formula for the population, P, of the town as a function of year t.

a. The population increases by 50 people a year.

b. The population increases by 5% a year.

**could you please explain to me how this works? I don't really get how to format the formulas :/ Thanks a bunch!! :)

Question

A town has a population of 1,000 people at time t=0. For circumstances a and b, write a formula for the population, P, of the town as a function of year t.

a.  The population increases by 50 people a year.

b.  The population increases by 5% a year. 

**could you please explain to me how this works? I don't really get how to format the formulas :/ Thanks a bunch!! :)

wolf1728 · Answer

Part a)
Population = 1,000 + [(50) * years]

Part b)
Population = 1,000 * (1.05)^years

I don't think I could explain very well how I derived those formulas.  I just try to configure the formulas making changes as needed until I'm sure they work.

anonymous · Answer

so it would just be like this?

a) P=1000+50t

b) 1000 x (1.05)^t 

?? and how come it's 1.05? thank you :) don't know if what i wrote above matches what you wrote? :/

wolf1728 · Answer

Part b states that the population increases 5% per year, hence the 1.05

anonymous · Answer

ohh okay I see :) so how I rewrote what you said is correct?? 


a) P=1000+50t

b) 1000 x (1.05)^t 
? :)