Question

The hawk population in a county is declining at a rate of 1.4% per year. the population was 3800 in the year 2016. which answer is the best prediction of the population in the year 2020?

Answer 1

After a year the population will be 98.6% (100% - 1.4%) 98.6% as a decimal is 0.986 ... so after 1 year it will be: 

3800 x 0.986 

after 2 years it will be: 

3800 x 0.986 x 0.986... 

after 3 years: 3800 x (0.986)^3 

in 2018. And after 4 years it will be 3800 x (0.986)^4 = which is 3591.62724 or 3592