38) The population of Detroit was 951,700 in 2000, and has decreased by 2.8% per year, on average.
Create an equation to model this situation, then answer the following questions.
a) Find the population of Detroit in 2014.
b) If the trend continues, when will the population
reach 500,000



Answer :

Certainly! Let's go through this step by step.

### Step 1: Create the Population Model

The population of Detroit in a given year can be modeled by an exponential decay function. Given that the population decreases by 2.8% per year, we can use the general form of the exponential decay model:

[tex]\[ P(t) = P_0 \cdot (1 - r)^t \][/tex]

Where:
- [tex]\( P(t) \)[/tex] is the population at time [tex]\( t \)[/tex] years after the initial year,
- [tex]\( P_0 \)[/tex] is the initial population,
- [tex]\( r \)[/tex] is the annual rate of decrease,
- [tex]\( t \)[/tex] is the number of years since the initial year.

In this problem:
- [tex]\( P_0 = 951700 \)[/tex] (the population in 2000),
- [tex]\( r = 0.028 \)[/tex] (the annual decrease rate of 2.8%).

### Step 2: Find the Population in 2014

We first need to find the population in 2014, which is 14 years after 2000. Plugging in the values, we have:

[tex]\[ t = 2014 - 2000 = 14 \][/tex]

So, the equation becomes:

[tex]\[ P(14) = 951700 \cdot (1 - 0.028)^{14} \][/tex]

Calculating the population in 2014:

[tex]\[ P(14) \approx 951700 \cdot (0.972)^{14} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ P(14) \approx 639481.1956226993 \][/tex]

Therefore, the population of Detroit in 2014 is approximately [tex]\( 639,481 \)[/tex].

### Step 3: Find When the Population Will Reach 500,000

We want to find the year [tex]\( t \)[/tex] when the population [tex]\( P(t) \)[/tex] reaches 500,000. Using the same exponential decay equation, we set [tex]\( P(t) = 500000 \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ 500000 = 951700 \cdot (1 - 0.028)^t \][/tex]

To solve for [tex]\( t \)[/tex], we first isolate the exponential term:

[tex]\[ \frac{500000}{951700} = (0.972)^t \][/tex]

Simplifying the fraction:

[tex]\[ \approx 0.5253 = (0.972)^t \][/tex]

To solve for [tex]\( t \)[/tex], we take the natural logarithm of both sides:

[tex]\[ \ln(0.5253) = t \cdot \ln(0.972) \][/tex]

Then divide both sides by [tex]\( \ln(0.972) \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ t = \frac{\ln(0.5253)}{\ln(0.972)} \][/tex]

Calculating [tex]\( t \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ t \approx \frac{-0.6431}{-0.0284} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ t \approx 22.65 \][/tex]

Since [tex]\( t \)[/tex] must be an integer, we round up to the next whole number, [tex]\( t = 23 \)[/tex].

Therefore, the year when the population reaches 500,000 is:

[tex]\[ 2000 + 23 = 2023 \][/tex]

### Final Answers:
a) The population of Detroit in 2014 is approximately 639,481.
b) The population will reach 500,000 in the year 2023.

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