Answer:
Initially, the tundra has 180 caribou, and every year , the number of caribou increases by a factor of 1.2 .
Step-by-step explanation:
"Initially" generally means "when t=0." Put 0 where t is in the function and evaluate it:
f(0) = 1.8(1.2)^0 = 1.8(1) = 1.8 . . . . . hundreds
1.8 hundreds is 1.8×100 = 180.
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t is in years, so the simplest choice for the second blank in the statement is "year".
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The exponent of 1.2 is t, which means that 1.2 is a factor of the expression the number of times specified by t.
for t=0, f(0) = 1.8
for t=1, f(1) = 1.8(1.2)
for t=2, f(2) = 1.8(1.2)(1.2)
for t=3, f(3) = 1.8(1.2)(1.2)(1.2)
Perhaps you can see that every year, the number increases by a factor of 1.2.
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You could put "3 years" in the second blank, then the third blank would be 1.2³ = 1.728. While correct, it is probably not what is expected by your answer checker.
