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Advanced MathMediumIdentifying the model from a percentage change

Advanced Math practice question

A forest's area is 8,000 hectares and shrinks by 3% each year. Which function gives the area A, in hectares, after t years?

  1. A. A(t) = 8000(0.97)ᵗCorrect
  2. B. A(t) = 8000(0.03)ᵗ
  3. C. A(t) = 8000 − 240t
  4. D. A(t) = 8000(1.03)ᵗ

Answer: A. A(t) = 8000(0.97)ᵗ

A 3% loss keeps 97% each year: multiply by 0.97 repeatedly.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. A(t) = 8000(0.03)ᵗ
0.03 keeps 3%, a 97% loss each year.
C. A(t) = 8000 − 240t
8000 − 240t is linear: 3% of the ORIGINAL each year.
D. A(t) = 8000(1.03)ᵗ
1.03 is growth, not shrinkage.

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