A population of flies grows according to the function p(x) = 2(4)x, where x is measured in weeks. A local spider has set up shop and consumes flies according to the function s(x) = 2x + 5. What is the population of flies after two weeks with the introduced spider? Can someone show me how to answer this, very confused... Please?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Retype growth function? Looks wrong here.

mathmale · Answer

By p(x) = 2(4)x, do you mean$$p(x)=2*4^{x}$$

???

anonymous · Answer

you calculate p(2) and s(2). then subtract p(2)-s(2) and youll get your answer ;)

mathmale · Answer

Looks as tho you're dealing with rates of change.  

If p(x)=fly population, one would guess that the number of flies flying around  :)  would continue to increase until Mr. Spyder arrived and set up shop for his own pleasure.  ;)

After that, I'd assume the fly population would continue to increase at a lesser rate, stay constant, or decrease.  

Are you taking calculus?  

If so, what you want here is the net rate of change of the fly population; that would be the rate at which the fly population would increase (without the blessings of Mr. Spyder), less the rate at which Mr. S. consumes flies.

mathmale · Answer

My argument is a bit roundabout; Mr. Purger's makes senseto me and is a lot simpler.