Question

Difficulty: EasyLinear and Exponential Growth

A town's population was 12,00012,000 in the year 20102010. Since 20102010, the population of the town has increased by a constant amount of 350350 people each year. Based on this information, what was the population of the town in the year 20182018?

Answer: 14800

Answer

14,800
The population starts at 12,00012,000 in 20102010 and grows linearly by 350350 people per year. The number of years from 20102010 to 20182018 is 20182010=82018 - 2010 = 8 years. The total increase in population is 350×8=2,800350 \times 8 = 2,800 people. Adding this to the initial population of 12,00012,000 gives a total population of 12,000+2,800=14,80012,000 + 2,800 = 14,800 in the year 20182018.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the number of years that passed between 20102010 and 20182018.
88 years
To determine the total population growth, we need the elapsed time in years.
2
Calculate the total population growth over this 88-year period.
2,8002,800 people
Since the growth is linear, the total growth is the constant annual rate of change multiplied by the number of years.
3
Add the total population growth to the initial population from 20102010.
14,80014,800
The population in 20182018 is the initial population plus the total growth over the 88-year period.

Key Concept

Linear growth represents a quantity that increases by a constant amount per unit of time.
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