Suppose that in a certain area the consumption of electricity has increased at a continuous rate of 7​%. If it continued to increase at this​ rate, find the number of years before four times as much electricity would be needed.

Respuesta :

Answer is 19.8 years

Step-by-step explanation: We will use the continuously compounded growth formula to solve this problem.

[tex]Q = Ne^k^t[/tex]

where Q is the final electric consumption,

N is the initial electric consumption,

e is the exponential function,

k is the rate of increasing (annually), and

t is the time in years.

As we are aware that final electric consumption is 4 times the initial consumption, so,

Q = 4N and k = 0.07

[tex]4N = Ne^k^t[/tex]

[tex]ln 4 = 0.07t[/tex] (as lne = 1)

t = 19.8 years