The population of the world in 1987 was 5 billion and the annual growth rate was estimated at 2 percent per year.

Question

Assuming that the world population follows an exponential growth model, find the projected world population in 1996.

Answer 1

If there are 5 billion at the start of 1987,

there will be (1.02)(5 Billion) at the end of 1987

at the end of 1988, the population will be 1.02 { (1.02)(5 Billion) } or (5 Billion)(1.02)²

You can see the trend, so at the end of 10 years (1996), there will be (5 Billion)(1.02)¹⁰

or 6.095 Billion { If you are talking about the end of 1987 you would change the exponent for the

number of exact years etc. }