son's word problem. best solution?

[chris]

The price of a particular products doubles every 35 years. if the price of the products was $16.50 on Jan.1, 1996, then the price of the product will be $36.50 in what year. Show work

 

[mmm4444bot]

Show work

Is this a command?

 

[chris]

Is this a command?

No, an after thought from the assigned word problem.

 

[chris]

What I came up with was-2034. The price will be 33.00 in 2031 and 66.00 in 2066. The rate of change between 2031 and 2066 is 0.94. 36.50-33.00=3.50. 3.50*0.94=3.29 2031+3.29=2034.29. I think this is right, but feel I'm missing something...

 

[mmm4444bot]

Is your son's class currently studying exponential growth?

 

[chris]

lol, no, algebra2 - high school freshman,

 

[mmm4444bot]

You asked about the "best solution". The best solution comes from an exponential-growth model:

Price = 16.5 * 2^(t/35)

where t is the number of years that have elapsed since January 1, 1996.

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I do not know what your son's class is doing, but, if the point of this exercise is to estimate a solution, then your linear-growth approach may be acceptable.

Your result is only two years less than the "best solution". :cool:

 

[procyon]

Have we totally confused the issue now?

I'm not sure. What was the question again