Algebra

Answer the questions below and show your work when calculations are required.
Try to write your answer on the blank space below each question.

  1. You have two options for investing $500. The first earns 7% interest compounded annually, and
    the second earns 7% simple interest. The figure shows the growth of each investment over a 30-
    year period.
    a. What is the approximate amount of money in your account, after 15 years, for the linear model?
    Explain
    b. What is the approximate amount of money in your account, after 20 years, for the exponential
    model? Explain
    c. How much more money is, approximately, in your account for the exponential model than for
    the linear model, after 30 years? How did you calculate this amount?
    2
  2. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the projected world population t years after 2010 is given
    by the function:
    𝒇(𝒕) = 𝟔. 𝟗𝟒𝟕𝒆
    𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟒𝟓𝒕
    a. Is this equation representing a population growth or a population decay? Explain based on the
    sign of the constant k = 0.00745.
    b. What value of t will you use to calculate the population in 2025? Remember t is the number of
    years after 2010.
  3. You will deposit $500 in a bank account at a 7% interest compounded annually. The formula for
    compound interest is shown below:
    𝐴(𝑡) = 𝑃 (1 +
    𝑟
    𝑛
    )
    𝑛𝑡
    a. Select the values of P, r, and n from the problem statement.
    b. If you graph t vs. A, will the graph be increasing, decreasing or constant? Explain.
    c. Write the formula that describe the data given.
    3
  4. Suppose 600g of a radioactive substance are present initially and 3 years later only 300g
    remains.
    If the equation modelling the change in mass of the radioactive substance is 𝑦 = 𝑦0𝑒
    𝑘𝑡:
    a. What does y0 represent, and what is its value, based on the problem’s statement (above)?
    b. Is this problem about exponential growth or exponential decay? Explain.
    c. What does k represent and what is going to be its sign (positive or negative)? Explain.
  5. You will deposit $3000 in a bank account at a 2% interest compounded monthly. The formula for
    compound interest is shown below:
    𝐴(𝑡) = 𝑃(1 +
    𝑟
    𝑛
    )
    𝑛𝑡
    a. Select the value of P, r and n from the problem statement.
    b. Explain the order in which you will perform the operations to calculate A(t).
    c. What will be the amount in the bank account after 4 years?
    4
  6. Suppose 600g of a radioactive substance are present initially and 3 years later only 300g
    remains.
    If the equation modelling the change in mass of the radioactive substance is 𝑦 = 𝑦0𝑒
    𝑘𝑡:
    a. Explain the steps to determine the value of the constant k, based on the information provided.
    b. How much of the substance will be present after 6 years.
  7. You have two options for investing $500. The first earns 7% interest compounded annually, and
    the second earns 7% simple interest. The figure shows the growth of each investment over a 30-
    year period.
    a. Determine which graph represents each type of investment. Explain your reasoning.
    b. Which option would you choose? Explain
    c. Just based on the information provided by the graph (without any calculation), can you estimate
    the amount of money in your 7% interest compounded annually account after 45 years? Explain.
    Final Investment Value using Simple Interest formula: 𝐴(𝑡) = 𝑃(1 + 𝑟𝑡)
    Final Investment Value using Compounded Interest formula: 𝐴(𝑡) = 𝑃 (1 +
    𝑟
    𝑛
    )
    𝑛𝑡
    5
  8. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the projected world population t years after 2010 is given
    by the function:
    𝒇(𝒕) = 𝟔. 𝟗𝟒𝟕𝒆
    𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟒𝟓𝒕
    a. Could you use the given function to calculate what the world population was in 2005?
    Explain.
  9. The exponential growth model for a population contains certain assumptions, for example:
  10. There is constant rate of birth and death among the individuals of the population.
  11. There is no immigration and emigration taking place in the population.
  12. There are no genetic variations among the individuals of the population.
  13. Variations in age and size among population members are not included
    a. Explain how failing to make these assumptions will affect your exponential growth model (use at
    least two of the assumptions above).
    The formula for the exponential growth model is: 𝐴 = 𝐴0𝑒
    𝑘𝑡, where:
    𝐴0 - original size.
    k - constant representing the growth rate.
    t – amount of time
    6
  14. From 1950 to 2010, the world population approximately increased by 165%.
    The data presented below supports the above statement. The data is presented in three different
    forms (table, set of ordered pairs, and a scatter plot graph).
    a. Is the statement above correct, based on the data provided? Explain.
    b. What format(s) could you use in a presentation to support the above statement? Explain your
    selection.
    c. What format(s) let you identify better the trendline that better fit the data (linear, exponential,
    logarithmic, polynomial, etc.)? Explain your selection.
    a. Table:
    x, year y, world population
    (billions)
    1950 2.6
    1960 3.0
    1970 3.7
    1980 4.5
    1990 5.3
    2000 6.1
    2010 6.9
    b. Set of ordered pairs:
    {(1950, 2.6), (1960, 3.0), (1970, 3.7), (1980, 4.5), (1990, 5.3), (2000, 6.1), (2010, 6.9)}
    (x, y) = (year, population in billions).
    c. Graph:
    7

Full Answer Section

       
  • d. The graph will be increasing. With compound interest, the amount in the account grows over time.

  • e. A(t) = 500(1 + 0.07)^t (Since n=1, it simplifies nicely)

Problem 3

  • a. y0 represents the initial amount of the radioactive substance. y0 = 600g.

  • b. This problem is about exponential decay. The amount of the substance is decreasing over time.

  • c. k represents the decay rate. k will be negative because the substance is decaying.

  • d.

    • P = $3000
    • r = 0.02
    • n = 12
  • e. The order of operations is:

    1. Divide r by n.
    2. Add 1 to the result.
    3. Raise the result to the power of (n*t).
    4. Multiply the result by P.
  • f. A(4) = 3000(1 + 0.02/12)^(12*4) ≈ $3251.71

Problem 4

  • a.

    1. Substitute the initial amount (y0 = 600) and the amount after 3 years (y = 300) into the equation: 300 = 600e^(3k)
    2. Divide both sides by 600: 0.5 = e^(3k)
    3. Take the natural logarithm (ln) of both sides: ln(0.5) = 3k
    4. Divide by 3 to solve for k: k = ln(0.5)/3
  • b. y = 600e^(6k) where k is the value you calculated in part a.

  • c.

    • The exponential graph (curved upward) represents the 7% interest compounded annually. Compound interest earns interest on previously earned interest, leading to faster growth. The linear graph (straight line) represents simple interest.
  • d. The exponential option (compounded annually) is better in the long run because it grows faster due to compounding.

  • e. Yes, you can estimate. The exponential graph is still curving upwards, indicating continued growth. It will be significantly higher than the value at 30 years.

Problem 5

  • a. No, you cannot directly use the function to calculate the population in 2005. The function is defined for t years after 2010. To use it for 2005, you would need to adjust the function or input a negative value for t, which might not be directly applicable within the model's intended use.

  • b.

    • Birth and Death Rates: If birth and death rates fluctuate significantly instead of remaining constant, the exponential model's predictions will deviate from reality. Periods of higher birth rates would lead to faster growth than the model predicts, while periods of higher death rates would slow growth.
    • Immigration and Emigration: If there's substantial immigration or emigration, the model will be inaccurate. Immigration would increase the population beyond what the model predicts, while emigration would decrease it.

Problem 6

  • a. Yes, the statement is approximately correct. In 1950 the population was 2.6 billion. In 2010 it was 6.9 billion. The increase is 6.9-2.6 = 4.3 billion. The percentage increase is (4.3/2.6) * 100% ≈ 165.4%

  • b. A combination of the table and the graph would be most effective. The table provides precise data points, while the graph visually illustrates the overall trend of population growth.

  • c. The graph is the best format to identify the trendline. The visual representation makes it easier to see the curve of the data and determine whether it's best represented by a linear, exponential, or other type of function.

 

Sample Answer

       

Let's break down each of these problems step by step.

Problem 1

  • a. The linear model represents simple interest. After 15 years, the approximate amount of money is $500 + ($500 * 0.07 * 15) = $1025. This is calculated by finding the total interest earned (principal * rate * time) and adding it to the initial principal.

  • b. The exponential model represents compound interest. After 20 years, the approximate amount of money is $500 * (1 + 0.07)^20 ≈ $1934. This is calculated using the compound interest formula.

  • c. After 30 years, the exponential model has approximately $500 * (1 + 0.07)^30 ≈ $4061. The linear model has $500 + ($500 * 0.07 * 30) = $1550. The difference is $4061 - $1550 = $2511. I calculated this by finding the final amount for each model and subtracting the linear model's final amount from the exponential model's final amount.

Problem 2

  • a. This equation represents population growth. The constant k (0.00745) is positive. In exponential models, a positive k indicates growth, while a negative k indicates decay.

  • b. To calculate the population in 2025, you would use t = 2025 - 2010 = 15.

  • c.

    • P = $500 (principal)
    • r = 0.07 (interest rate as a decimal)
    • n = 1 (compounded annually)