the population P(t) of a new residential development t years after 2010 is P(t)=8000(1-e^-0.3t). What is the population for 2015?

* algebra - Reiny, Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 6:19pm

replace t with 5 and evaluate using your calculator

(I got 6215)

I was the population to increase in a new development.
Are you sure your formula is correct?

* algebra - math help, Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 6:52pm

6215 is the right answer. What were the steps without a calculator? Thanks!

you have to evaluate e^(-5) can be done, by this method (1/e)(1/e)(1/e)(1/e)(1/e) That would be fun multiplying without a calculator.

To find the population for 2015 using the given formula P(t) = 8000(1 - e^(-0.3t)), you need to substitute t with the number of years after 2010. In this case, since you are finding the population for 2015, the number of years after 2010 would be 5.

Step 1: Substitute t with 5 in the formula:
P(5) = 8000(1 - e^(-0.3(5)))

Step 2: Simplify the expression inside the parentheses:
P(5) = 8000(1 - e^(-1.5))

Step 3: Calculate e^(-1.5) using the value of e (approximately 2.71828):
P(5) = 8000(1 - 2.71828^(-1.5))

Step 4: Calculate 2.71828^(-1.5) using a calculator:
P(5) = 8000(1 - 0.22313)

Step 5: Simplify the expression inside the parentheses:
P(5) = 8000(0.77687)

Step 6: Multiply the two numbers:
P(5) ≈ 6215

So, the population for 2015 is approximately 6215.