Answer:
The population is 2017 is 291,254
Step-by-step explanation:
The exponential equation will be in the form
P = I( 1 + r)^t
where P is the present population
I is the population initially at 1970
r is the annual growth percentage
t is the number of years since 1970
So for 2002, we have
r in this case will be 2002-1970 = 32
277,877 = 204,525(1 + r)^32
(1 + r)^32 = 1.3586
1 + r = 1.0096
r = 1.0096-1
r = 0.0096
So the growth percentage is 0.96% annually
So the population in 2017 where t will be 2017-1970 = 37 will be
P = 204,525(1 + 0.0096)^37
P = 204,525(1.0096)^37
P = 291,254