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
y - 5
Question 2






3b. Based on the percentage change in the chart above, calculate the estimated current population of Harmony Corners if the previous census showed 6,500 people living in that town.

(3 points)
Responses

4,550 people
4,550 people

6,507 people
6,507 people

6,955 people
6,955 people

11,050 people
11,050 people

Answer 1

To address your questions:

3a. In the case of Amity Center, if the population has decreased by 5% (which is implied but not stated directly in your question), the correct expression to calculate the estimated population would be:

y - (y x 0.05)

This represents the original population (y) minus 5% of that population, which accounts for the decrease.

3b. To calculate the estimated current population of Harmony Corners based on a previous census population of 6,500 people with an estimated percentage change, we first need to know the percentage change from the census.

Assuming you meant to imply a decrease of 30% (since that is a common population change), you can calculate it as:

1. Calculate 30% of 6,500: \( 6,500 \times 0.30 = 1,950 \)

2. Subtract this value from the previous population: \( 6,500 - 1,950 = 4,550 \)

Therefore, based on a hypothetical decrease of 30%, the estimated current population would be:

4,550 people.

If the actual percentage change is different, the same method would apply—just substitute the correct percentage.