Question

A scientist is developing a new method to reduce the population of a certain invasive insect species. For an experiment, the scientist starts with 2,500 insects. She predicts that her new method will reduce the number of insects in the experiment by 14% each week.
Write an exponential equation in the form y=a(b)x that can model the predicted number of insects, y, in the experiment after x weeks.
Use whole numbers, decimals, or simplified fractions for the values of a and b.
y =

Answer 1

y = 2500(0.86)^x

(Starts with 2500 insects and multiplies by 1 − 0.14 = 0.86 each week.)