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Question

The initial population of a town is 16,237 and it grows with a doubling time of 24 years. What will the population be in 2 years?

Answer 1

Most of these type problems use the exponential function P = P_oe^kt

where p = population at time t

Po = the population at time 0

k = the time constant

t = time

Using the initial conditions, 2P_o = P_oe^kt then 2 = e^k(24) then k = ln(2)/24 = .02888

So, in 2 years P(2) = (16,237)e^(.02888)(2) = 17,202.5