Answer:
313,600
Step-by-step explanation:
Let t represent number of years after Beth's 9th birthday.
We have been given that since Beth was born the population of her towns has increased at a rate of 850 people per year. So number of people increased in t years would be [tex]850t[/tex].
We are also told that on Beth's 9th birthday the total population was nearly 307,650. This means that t-intercept is 307,650.
The population of town t years after Beth's birthday would be [tex]P(t)=850t+307,650[/tex].
To find population on Beth's 16th birthday, we will substitute [tex]t=7[/tex] in our equation as Beth's 16th birthday would be 7 years after 9th birthday.
[tex]P(t)=850(7)+307,650[/tex]
[tex]P(7)=5950+307,650[/tex]
[tex]P(7)=313,600[/tex]
Therefore, the population on Beth's 16th birthday would be 313,600.
