Solve Sequence Problem: Estimate World Population 1799-1900

  • Thread starter Thread starter notme
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Sequence
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 3K views
notme
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
K it's been a while and I can't remember how to figure this problem out without going doing tons of work.

Estimating that the world population was 0.9 billion in 1798, use this equation to estimate the population (in billions) in the years 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, and 1900.

Using the equation y(n+1) = 1.03y(n)

I got all the years except 1900... I don't remember how to find this out the fast way.. please refresh my memory
 
Physics news on Phys.org
notme said:
K it's been a while and I can't remember how to figure this problem out without going doing tons of work.

Estimating that the world population was 0.9 billion in 1798, use this equation to estimate the population (in billions) in the years 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, and 1900.

Using the equation y(n+1) = 1.03y(n)

I got all the years except 1900... I don't remember how to find this out the fast way.. please refresh my memory

It bottles down to solving the difference equation y(n+1)-1.03y(n)=0
solving it we get [tex]y[n] = C1 * (1.03)^n[/tex] C1 is a constant
use initial condition at n =0 we have y(0) = 0.9 (in billions)
so C1 = 0.9
then the solution is [tex]y[n] = 0.9 * (1.03)^n[/tex] in billions
so year 1900 is n= 1900-1798+1 = 103
Then u get y[103] = 18.9 Billion in the year 1900.
 
real10 said:
It bottles down to solving the difference equation y(n+1)-1.03y(n)=0
solving it we get [tex]y[n] = C1 * (1.03)^n[/tex] C1 is a constant
use initial condition at n =0 we have y(0) = 0.9 (in billions)
so C1 = 0.9
then the solution is [tex]y[n] = 0.9 * (1.03)^n[/tex] in billions
so year 1900 is n= 1900-1798+1 = 103
Then u get y[103] = 18.9 Billion in the year 1900.

Don't give the answer, ok? Let the poster find if for him/her self. It takes the fun out of it for them.
 
Dick said:
Don't give the answer, ok? Let the poster find if for him/her self. It takes the fun out of it for them.

sorry u are right... I have avoided this and if u noticed recently I been giving hints and explanations more than solving it to the end (unless required..)
 
not even correct.