Rabbits on a island

Question

The population of rabbits on an island is growing exponentially in the year 1995 the population of rabbits was 8600 and by 1997 the population had grown to 109000 predict the population in the year 2007 to the nearest whole number

Answer 1

The exponential equation has 2 parameters: y = ae^kt

^.

^{The 2 pieces of data will give you 2 simultaneous equations in 2 unknowns, as follows}

ln y = ln a + kt

If you set 1995 = year 0 and ignore the right 2 zeros:

86 = ln a

and 1090 = ln a + 2k

You should use your calculator to get the ln values and solve for ln a and k.

Then set t=12 in the equation you have calculated to get your final answer.