This document discusses population growth projections for the state of Florida and city of Tampa using exponential growth formulas. It is projected that the population of Florida will reach 21,770,899 in 10 years based on a current population of 19,317,568 and annual growth rate of 1.2%. The population of Tampa is projected to reach 415,435 in 10 years from a current population of 347,645 with an annual growth rate of 1.8%. Factors like migration, retirement, and immigration contribute to Florida's continued population increases.

1. (Need a cover page or heading and introduction here)
1. Determine the population of your state 10 years from now.
According to the most recent census estimate, the population of
Florida is 19,317,568 (World Population Review, 2013). Florida
has a growth rate of 1.2%, and is ranked as the eighth fastest
growing state in the country. (Clouser, 2012).
To determine the population 10 years from now, we use the
following formula:
P(1 + r)n
P represents the initial population we are considering =
19,317,568
r represents the annual growth rate expressed as a decimal =
1.2/100 = 0.012
n is the number of years of growth = 10
Plugging these into the formula, we find:
19,317,568(1+0.012)10
=19,317,568(1.012)10
=19,317,568(1.127)
=21,770,899 = Population of Florida in 10 years.
2. Determine how long and in what year the population in your
state may double assuming a steady annual growth rate.
We use the following formula:
Double P = P(1 + r)n

2. P will be 19,317,568, Double P will be 38,635,136, r = 0.012,
and we will be looking for n.
38,635,136 = 19,317,568(1+0.012)n Divide both sides by
19,317,568
2 = (1.012)n
To solve for n, we need to invoke a special exponent property of
logarithms. If we take the log of both sides of this equation, we
can move exponent as shown below:
log 2 = log (1.012)n
log 2 = n log (1.012)
Now, divide both sides of the equation by log (1.012) to get:
n = log 2 / log (1.012)
Using the logarithm function of a calculator, this becomes:
n = log 2/log (1.012)
= 58.1 years to double the population of Florida
3. Look up the population and annual percentage growth rate of
the city in which you live.
Tampa, Florida population: 347,645 Growth Rate: 1.8% (United
States Census Bureau, 2012)
4.Determine the population of your city in 10 years.
P(1 + r)n
P is 347,645
r is .018
n is 10
347,645(1+0.018)10 Plug in the values
=347,645(1.018)10
=347,645(1.195)
=415,435= Population of Tampa in 10 years
5. Determine how long until the population of your city doubles
assuming a steady growth rate.
We use the following formula:
Double P = P(1 + r)n

3. P will be 347,645, Double P will be 695,290, r = 0.018, and we
will be looking for n.
695,290 = 347,645(1+0.018)n Divide both sides by 347,645
2 = (1.018)n
To solve for n, we need to invoke a special exponent property of
logarithms. If we take the log of both sides of this equation, we
can move exponent as shown below:
log 2 = log (1.018)n
log 2 = n log (1.018)
Now, divide both sides of the equation by log (1.018) to get:
n = log 2 / log (1.018)
Using the logarithm function of a calculator, this becomes:
n = log 2/log (1.018)
=38.9 years to double the population of Tampa
6. Discuss factors that could possibly influence the growth rate
of your city and state.
Both the city of Tampa and the state of Florida are experiencing
growth. The United Census Bureau ranked Tampa as the 3rd
largest city in Florida (2010). Factors influencing the increases
in population are migration from overseas and within the
country. In fact, The World Population review (2012) suggests
“around two thirds of residents were born in another state – a
statistic that is the second highest in the US.” Florida also ranks
fourth in illegal immigration, leading to a projection by The
U.S. Census Bureau “that Florida will have gained 1.9 million
additional immigrants between 1995 and 2025 (Bouvier and
Stein, n.d.). Florida has no state tax, making it attractive to
people from other states, and it is also a hotspot for retirees. As
the baby boomers age, there is a great likelihood they will come
to Florida to retire.
However, I must say that there is a grumbling about the
population in Florida, as well as the city of Tampa. No state tax
means a threatened infrastructure. Particularly, the traffic
infrastructure, school systems, and environment all suffer
because of rising population. Bouvier and Stein illustrate, “Its

4. open space is vanishing, its highways are clogged with polluting
traffic jams, and every day, 860 acres of its forests and
farmland are lost to development” (n.d.). Perhaps these offenses
will make people think twice before making the move to
Florida. This could slow the growth rate and even reverse it if
conditions get too bad.
If this were to happen, a 0.9% decline would look like this:
Florida
P(1-r)^n
19,317,568 (1-0.009)^10
19,317,568 (0.991)^10
19,317,568 (0.9135) = 17,646,598 in ten years
Tampa
P(1-r)^n
347,645 (1-0.009)^10
347,645 (0.991)^10
347,645 (0.9135) =317,573 in ten years
7. Think of other real world applications where exponential
equations can be utilized.
“Exponential growth and decay are mathematical changes. The
rate of the change continues to either increase or decrease as
time passes” (Roberts, 2012).
The formulas are:
Growth: y = a(1+r)x
Decay: y = a(1-r)x
Some examples include:
Money growing exponentially in a bank account
The price of products growing exponentially with inflation
(Pirnot, 2010)
The decay of bacteria and radioactive substances (Jordan, 2013)
The decline (or decay) of participants in rounds of play during a
tournament
-Heather

5. Reference
Bouvier, L. and Stein, S. (n.d.). Focus on Florida: Population,
resources, and quality of life [NPG special report]. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.npg.org/specialreports/FL/fl_report.html
Clouser, R. (2012). 2011 Florida population growth is third
largest in United States ... But still not close to pre-recession
levels [Publication #FE904]. Retrieved from Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida website:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe904
Jordan, L. (2013). Exponential functions in the real world.
Retrieved from http://www.sophia.org/exponential-functions-in-
the-real-world/exponential-functions-in-the-real-world--3-
tutorial
Pirnot, T. (2010). Mathematics all around, 4th ed. Boston,
Massachusetts: Pearson Education, Inc. Retrieved from
http://media.pearsoncmg.com/aw/aw_pirnot_mathallaround_4/e
book/pma04_flash_main.html?chapter=null&page=1&anchory=n
ull&pstart=null&pend=null
Roberts, D. (2012). Exponential Growth and Decay. Retrieved
from
http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/ALGEBRA/AE7/Exp
DecayL.htm
United States Census Bureau. (2012). State and county quick
facts: Tampa (city), Florida. Retrieved from
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/1271000.html
World Population Review. (2013). Population of Florida 2013.
Retrieved from http://worldpopulationreview.com/population-
of-florida/