 |
| ||
| |||
|
| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
|
Question from hunter, a student: The population of a certain town in 1984 was 2900 people. The percent increase was 2.5% each year. What is the town's population in 2002? |
Hi Hunter,
$2.5\%$ is $0.025$ so the increase in population from 1984 to 1985 would be $0.025 \times 2900.$ Hence the population in 1985 would be
\[{\bf 2900} + 0.025 \times {\bf 2900} = (1 + 0.025) \times {\bf 2900} = 1.025 \times 2900.\]
The increase in population from 1985 to 1986 would then be $0.025 \times (1.025 \times 2900)$ so the population in 1986 would be
\[{\bf 1.025 \times 2900} + 0.025 \times {\bf (1.025 \times 2900)} = (1 + 0.025) \times \left[{\bf 1.025 \times 2900}\right] = 1.025 \times {\bf 1.025 \times 2900} = (1.025)^2 \times 2900\]
What would be the population in 1987?
What would be the population in 2002?
Penny
| ||
| ||
| ||
 |
 |
|
Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.