Math  /  Algebra

QuestionThe function f(t)=2600(0.9955)t30f(t)=2600(0.9955)^{\frac{t}{30}} represents the change in a quantity over tt months. What does the constant 0.9955 reveal about the rate of change of the quantity?
Answer Attempt 1 out of 2
The function is \square exponentially at a rate of \square \% every Submit Answer

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? This problem is asking us to figure out what the number 0.9955 inside the parentheses tells us about how the quantity described by the function is changing over time. Watch out! Don't get tricked by the t/30t/30 in the exponent!
It's important, but it's not the main focus of this question.
Also, remember that the base of the exponent (0.9955) being less than 1 means the quantity is decreasing!

STEP 2

1. Analyze the function
2. Calculate the percentage rate of change

STEP 3

Alright, so we've got this function f(t)=2600(0.9955)t30f(t) = 2600(0.9955)^{\frac{t}{30}}.
It's telling us how some quantity, f(t)f(t), changes over time, tt, in months.
The **initial value** of the quantity, when t=0t = 0, is f(0)=2600(0.9955)030=2600(0.9955)0=26001=2600f(0) = 2600(0.9955)^{\frac{0}{30}} = 2600(0.9955)^0 = 2600 \cdot 1 = 2600.
So, we **start** with a quantity of **2600**.

STEP 4

Now, the important part is (0.9955)t30(0.9955)^{\frac{t}{30}}.
This tells us how the quantity changes over time.
Notice that 0.9955 is less than 1.
This means our quantity is **decreasing** over time!
The fraction t30\frac{t}{30} means we're looking at the change every **30 months**.

STEP 5

To find the **rate of change** per period, we need to look at the base of the exponent, which is **0.9955**.
Since this value is less than 1, we know the quantity is decreasing.
We can express 0.9955 as 10.00451 - 0.0045.
This tells us that the quantity is decreasing by 0.0045 every 30 months.

STEP 6

To express this decrease as a **percentage**, we multiply 0.0045 by 100.
So, 0.0045100=0.45%0.0045 \cdot 100 = 0.45\%.
This means the quantity is decreasing by **0.45% every 30 months**.

STEP 7

The function is **decreasing** exponentially at a rate of **0.45%** every **30 months**.

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