From 1790 to 1860, the United States population is modeled by the equation P = 4,000,000(1.031)*
where t is the number of years since
1790.
a) Using the equation, about how many people were living in the U.S. in 1790?
4,000,000
people
b) Using the equation, about how many people were living in the U.S. in 1880?
people
c) What is the approximate annual percent increase predicted by the model?
3.1
percent
d) What does the model predict for the population in 2024 (two hundred thirty-four years later)?
people
The model was created to model the years from 1790 to 1860. Does the model seem accurate for
estimating the population in 2024 (well beyond 1860)? Explain.
Therefore, while the model gives a mathematical
prediction, it may not be accurate for estimating
the population in 2024. Long-term projections often
require more complex models that account for
changing variables and uncertainties over time.
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