Question

Suppose the population in a town has an average growth rate of 18% . If there are 15,500 people now living in town, in about how many years will the population grow to 30,000? Use the equation 30,000 = (15,500)(1.18)x and round the value of x to the nearest year.

Answer 1

First isolate the exponential bit by dividing both sides by 15,500 (1.18)^x = 30,000/15,500.


Now you take logarithms of both sides ln (1.18)^x = ln (30,000/15500) can you continue from here? Hint;- use the rule ln a^b = b ln a.