Question

there are 225 wolves in a state park the population is increasing at the rate of 15% per year you want to make a prediction for how long it will take the population to reach 500

Answer 1

Well, here is how i would do it.

We start with 225, at a rate of 15% per year. Assuming your answers are in years and not months, we will increase by this increment; years.

So, we start with 225, and a 15%, or .15, increase. So what we would do, it take 225 times .15. One way ive learned to do this (via algebra class) is that you can times it by 1.15 to make it quicker, this just takes out the adding step.

So after one year, we would have a total of 258.75, or about 259 wolves.

after two years, we would have about 298 (we cant have a half of a wolf!)

after 3 years, we would have about 343 wolves.

after 4 years, we would have about 394 ish

after 5 years, we would have about 453

after 6 years, we would have about 521.

So, it would take about 5 and a half years, if thats an option choice.