The number of students enrolled in a school district was 8500 in 2010. Enrollment has been dropping by 4% each year since that time. Predict the enrollment in 2016.

Answer 1

6,460

Answer 2

The quick way to do this is to decrease by 4% each year or remember that 96% is retained each year , So

2010 8500

2011 .96(8500) = 8160

2012 .96(8160) = 7833.6

2013 .96(7833.6) = 7520.26

2014 .96(7520.26) = 7219.45

2015 .96(7219.44) = 6930.67

2016 .96(6930.67) = 6653.22

or this is just .96⁶(8500) = 6653.44