Question

The population of a town in texas is modeled by the function f(x)=16,869(1.037)^x. If the initial population (that is, the population when x=0) was measured January 1, 2014, what was the initial population?

Answer 1

As given by the question

There are given that the function

$f(x)=16,869(1.037)^x$

Now,

When f(x) = a(b)^x, a represent the starting value, b represent change and x represent time.

The population began in 2014 (x=0).

This makes the equation equal to 1686, which is your starting value and population 20000.

Then, 1.037 means that the initial value is multiplied by 1.037% each year

Therefore,, there 3% increase.