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Advanced Functions and Introductory Calculus (1) 1 498 256

The document discusses methods to model population growth and car depreciation using exponential functions. It provides examples of calculating future populations based on past data and estimating the value of a depreciating asset over time. Key calculations include determining population estimates for a town and the value of a car after a specified period of depreciation.

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tpa141a06
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5 views1 page

Advanced Functions and Introductory Calculus (1) 1 498 256

The document discusses methods to model population growth and car depreciation using exponential functions. It provides examples of calculating future populations based on past data and estimating the value of a depreciating asset over time. Key calculations include determining population estimates for a town and the value of a car after a specified period of depreciation.

Uploaded by

tpa141a06
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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b.

To determine t such that f (t)  24, we write


62 35   24
t


t
2 35  4  22.
Then 3t5  2
t  70.
The population will be 24 billion in 2069.

EXAMPLE 3 We do not always know the rate of increase. In this case, we construct an expo-
nential function with an unknown base and determine the base from the given
information. The population of a town was 24 000 in 1980 and 29 000 in 1990.
a. Determine an expression for the population at the time t years after 1980.
b. Use this expression to estimate the population of the town in 2020.

Solution
a. Let the population in t years be P(t)  P0bt, where P0 is the population at time
t  0, with t  0 in 1980. Then P(0)  P0b0  P0  24, in thousands.
Now P(t)  24bt.
We are given that P(10)  29.
Then 24b10  29
b10  2294.
Taking roots on both sides,
b  22
4
1
9 10


 1.019.
Now P(t)  24(1.019)t.
b. In the year 2020, t  2020  1980  40.
P(40)  24(1.019)40
 51.16
The population in 2020 will be approximately 51 000.

EXAMPLE 4 Just as population growth and inflation can be described by an exponential growth
function, radioactive decay and depreciation can be described by an exponential
decay function. A car depreciates by 15% per year. If you buy a car for $15 000,
find the value of the car in three years.

Solution
The car depreciates by 15% per year, so the base for the exponential function is
(1  0.15)  0.85.
The value of the car when t  0 is 15 000.
The value of the car after t years is V(t)  15 000(0.85)t.

6 . 4 E X P O N E N T I A L G R O W T H A N D D E C AY 239

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