A certain forest covers an area of 2,000 square kilometers. Suppose that each year this area decreases by 6%. What is the function that bestrepresents the area of the forest each year and how much area remains after 12 years? Round your answer to the nearest square kilometer.

Hint: Use the formula, f (x) = P (1 + r) x.

The question gives you the formula to use, but it's printed wrong.

The 'x' is an exponent after the (1 + r).

All you have to do is take the formula, and write the numbers into it

that are also given.

The key thing to spot is that the forest is decreasing, so the 'r' is negative,

just as if you had money in a savings account and every year the bank took

6% out of it.

So the formula to use is f (x) = P (1 + r) ^x

P = 2000

r = - 0.06

f (x) = 2000 (1 - 0.06) ^x

= 2000 (0.94) ^x

The amount left after 12 years is

2000 (0.94) ¹² =

2000 (0.476) = 951.8 square kilometers.