Question 3

Question

A county planner prepares the following table showing population trends in three local towns. The first column gives the name of the town. The second column gives the population as of the last census (A census is a count of people that live in a specific place). The third column gives the estimated increase or decrease in population since that census, expressed as a percentage of the previous population.

3a. Ella wants to write an expression to figure out the estimated population in the town of Amity Center. Which expression could she use to figure this out?

(2 points)
Responses

y + 5
y + 5

y + (y x 0.05)
y + (y x 0.05)

y - (y x 0.05)
y - (y x 0.05)

y - 5

Answer 1

To determine the estimated population in Amity Center after a percentage increase or decrease, we need to consider the current population (represented by \( y \)) and adjust it by the percentage given.

Assuming the estimated change is a decrease of 5%, the expression that Ella should use would be:

\[ y - (y \times 0.05) \]

This means she would subtract 5% of the current population \( y \) from \( y \) itself to find the new estimated population.

Therefore, the correct response is:

y - (y x 0.05).