Question

The population of Hawaii is growing by about 5% per year. If that rate were to continue, how long would it take for the population of Hawaii to double?

Answer 1

Answer:

  14.2 years

Step-by-step explanation:

The multiplier of the population each year is 1 +5% = 1.05, so after n years the population has been multiplied by 1.05^n. You want to find the value of n that makes this expression equal to 2:

  2 = 1.05^n

  log(2) = n·log(1.05) . . . . . take logarithms

  log(2)/log(1.05) = n ≈ 14.2

Growing at a rate of 5% per year, it will take about 14.2 years for the population to double.