In 1992, the moose population in a park was measured to be 3470. By 1999, the population was measured again to be 5290 If the population continues to change linearly: Find a formula for the moose population, P in terms of t the years since 1990. P(t)=square What does your model predict the moose population to be in 2003? square

## Step 1<br />The problem involves a linear function, which can be represented in the form \(y = mx + b\), where \(m\) is the slope of the line and \(b\) is the y-intercept.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />In this case, the slope \(m\) is the change in the moose population per year, which can be calculated by subtracting the population in 1992 from the population in 1999 and dividing by the number of years between these two years.<br /><br />### \(m = \frac{5290 - 3470}{1999 - 1992} = 183\)<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The y-intercept \(b\) is the population at the start of the period, which is 1990 in this case. So, \(b = 3470\).<br /><br />## Step 4<br />Substituting \(m\) and \(b\) into the equation gives us the formula for the moose population \(P\) in terms of \(t\), the years since 1990.<br /><br />### \(P(t) = 183t + 3470\)<br /><br />## Step 5<br />To predict the moose population in 2003, we substitute \(t = 13\) (since 2003 is 13 years after 1990) into the equation.<br /><br />### \(P(13) = 183*13 + 3470 = 6011\)