I'm confused..

Question

The total wages W in a metropolitan area compared to it's population p can be approximated by a power function of the form W=a*p^(9/8) where a is a constant. About how many times as great does the model predict the total earnings for a metropolitan area with 3,000,000 people will be as compared to a metropolitan area with a population of 750,000? 

Answer 1

Let W3 be the wages for the 300,000 area and W75 be the wages for the 750,000 metro area:

 

W₃ = a*(300,000)^9/8 = a*1451314.1

 

W₇₅ = a*(750,000)^9/8 = a*4068589.9

 

 W₃       a*1451314.1

------  =  -------------------  =  0.357

W₇₅      a*4068589.9