An exponential function can either represent growth or decay
(a) The initial number of fish and the growth factor
The function is given as:
[tex]P(t) = 200 \times 2^{t/4}[/tex]
An exponential function is represented as:
[tex]P(t) = ab^t[/tex]
Where
So, by comparison: the initial value is 200
The growth factor is then calculated as:
[tex]b = 2^{1/4}[/tex]
[tex]b = 1.190[/tex]
Hence, the initial value is 200 and the growth factor is 1.190
(b) The number of fish after 5 years
This means that t = 5.
So, we have:
[tex]P(t) = 200 \times 2^{t/4}[/tex]
[tex]P(5) = 200 \times 2^{5/4}[/tex]
[tex]P(5) = 200 \times 2^{1.125}[/tex]
[tex]P(5) = 436[/tex]
Hence, the number of fish in the pond after 5 years is 436
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