# Exponential growth

• February 23rd 2010, 06:50 PM
brianfisher1208
Exponential growth
The population of Windsor is growing at an annual rate of 1.5%. If the current population is 25,000, one function can be used to predict the future population of Windsor is P(t) = 25,000(1.015)t squared where t represents time in years. Use this function to predict the population Of Windsor in 10 years.....

..... ....... (Doh) ......
• February 23rd 2010, 07:30 PM
pickslides
The equation is $P(t) = 25,000(1.015)^t$

Now make t = 10 and calculate.

$P(10) = 25,000(1.015)^{10} = \dots$
• February 23rd 2010, 09:04 PM
Bacterius
Oh, what ? I was hoping for a question about formulae that model chunks of cortex flying everywhere :(

Anyway, since you know the formula that gives the population of Windsor after $t$ years, just plug in $t = 10$ years and get the answer with a calculator :)

However, would you mind posting the actual formula in LaTeX or at least with the standard mathematical notations (^ for exponentiation, for instance)

@Pickslides : I think you missed the "t squared" ?
• February 24th 2010, 07:16 PM
pickslides
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bacterius
@Pickslides : I think you missed the "t squared" ?

This did occur to me. but when reading the question

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianfisher1208
The population of Windsor is growing at an annual rate of 1.5%.

The equation must be as I have shown.

I think the following

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianfisher1208
P(t) = 25,000(1.015)t squared

Is the OP trying to express the variable t as as exponent. As in saying "I want the t to be in the spot the squared usually lives".