A study of the annual population of gray squirrels in a Texas state park shows the population, S (t), can be represented by the function S (t) = 273 (1.073) t, where the t represents the number of years since the study started. Based on the function, what is the growth rate?

A. 9.9

B. 10.4

C. 10.7

D. 11.2

0.073

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is about growth function and you are asked to find out the growth rate. Growth function has a format of

y = a (1+r) ^t

Where

y = future value = S (t)

a = current value = 273

r = growth rate

t = time = t

Since its a growing function, the r will be positive. If its decay function then the r will be negative. As you can see, the growth rate value is located inside the parentheses. The growth rate of the function should be:

(1+r) = (1.073)

r = 1.073 - 1

r = 0.073