The llama population on an island is decreasing by 10 percent per year. Use an exponential equation find the population after 10 years if the population started with 50,000 llamas at the end of year 1.(1 point)

Responses

19,371
19,371

49,900
49,900

15,690
15,690

17,433

1 answer

To find the population of llamas after 10 years, given that the population is decreasing by 10 percent per year, we can use the exponential decay equation:

\[ P(t) = P_0 \cdot (1 - r)^t \]

where:

  • \( P(t) \) is the population after time \( t \),
  • \( P_0 \) is the initial population,
  • \( r \) is the rate of decrease (as a decimal),
  • \( t \) is the time in years.

Given:

  • \( P_0 = 50,000 \)
  • \( r = 0.10 \)
  • \( t = 10 \)

We plug these values into the equation:

\[ P(10) = 50,000 \cdot (1 - 0.10)^{10} \] \[ P(10) = 50,000 \cdot (0.90)^{10} \]

Now, we calculate \( (0.90)^{10} \):

\[ (0.90)^{10} \approx 0.3487 \]

Now we calculate \( P(10) \):

\[ P(10) = 50,000 \cdot 0.3487 \approx 17,435 \]

Rounding gives us approximately 17,433.

Therefore, the population after 10 years is approximately 17,433.