To find the llama population after 10 years with an initial population of 50,000 and a decrease of 10% per year, we can use the formula for exponential decay:
\[ P(t) = P_0 \times (1 - r)^t \]
Where:
- \( P(t) \) = the population at time \( t \)
- \( P_0 \) = the initial population
- \( r \) = the rate of decrease (as a decimal)
- \( t \) = time in years
Given:
- \( P_0 = 50,000 \)
- \( r = 0.10 \)
- \( t = 10 \)
Now we can plug in the values:
\[ P(10) = 50,000 \times (1 - 0.10)^{10} \]
Calculating:
\[ P(10) = 50,000 \times (0.90)^{10} \]
Now compute \( (0.90)^{10} \):
\[ (0.90)^{10} \approx 0.3487 \]
Now calculate \( P(10) \):
\[ P(10) \approx 50,000 \times 0.3487 \approx 17,435 \]
The calculated population after 10 years, rounded to the nearest whole number, is approximately 17,435. Among the provided options, the closest value is:
17,433