A town has a population of 5000 and grows at every year. What will
be the population after 15 years, to the nearest whole number?

The population can be calculated using the formula for exponential growth, which is:

where is the initial population (5000), is the growth rate (0.035), and is the number of years (15). Plugging in the values:

Rounding to the nearest whole number, the population after 15 years will be approximately 8569.

To really visualize this population growth, think of it like a snowball rolling down a hill! With every year, that snowball picks up more snow (the town’s population) as it gathers speed (the growth rate). It’s fascinating to see how even a modest growth rate can lead to a significant increase over time, showcasing the power of compound interest in real life!

In real-world scenarios, such calculations are crucial, especially for urban planners and local governments. They need to anticipate the resources and infrastructure required for a growing population. From schools to public transportation, understanding population growth helps to make informed decisions that benefit the community as it expands. Who knew numbers could have such a big impact on shaping our towns?