Solving word problem

[dannihu92]

A population of wolves in a county is represented by the equation P(t) = 80(0.98)^t, where t is the number of years since 1998. Predict the number of wolves in the population in the year 2008.

I under plugging in t as 10. P(10) = 80(0.98)^10 but what i dont understand is what to do with P afterwards. I'm not sure if i have to use logarithms to isolate the t first or if i have to divide.

Please get back to this thread as soon as possible, and thanks for the help!

 

[swaroop]

Hi,
We can see this as an equation of geometric progression with common ratio less than 1, r=0.98. Every year the number of wolves keep reducing.
Initially at 1998, t=0, so P=80
At 2008, t=10, P=80*(0.98)^10=65.37. So appox there are 65 wolves.