Given: A town's population increases at a constant rate. In 2010 the population was 56,000. By 2012 the population had increased to 81,000.
Required: To predict the population in 2016.
Explanation: The population is increasing at a constant rate. In 2 years, the increase in population is-
[tex]81000-56000=25000[/tex]
Thus the slope (or rate of change of population per year) is-
[tex]\frac{25000}{2}=12500[/tex]
Thus, in 2016 after 6 years, the increase in population will be-
[tex]12500\times6=75000[/tex]
Hence, the population in 2016 will be-
[tex]56000+75000=131000[/tex]
Final Answer: The population will be 131,000 in 2016.
