At the beginning of an environmental study, a forest covered an area of 1500 km2 . Since then, this area has decreased by 1.7% each year.

Question

Let t  be the number of years since the start of the study. Let y be the area that the forest covers in
km2.Write an exponential function showing the relationship between y and t. 

Answer 1

Hi Alexander,

 

y(0)= 1500 km², r = -1.7% = - 0.017

y(t) = A e^rt , so A = y(0) = 1500

y(t) = 1500 e^-0.017t