Question

The number of people with the flu during an epidemic is a function, f, of the number of days, d, since the epidemic began. the equation f(d)= 50*(3/2)^d defines f.Find how many people had the flu at the beginning of the epidemic

Answer 1

Let's begin by listing out the information given to us:

$f\mleft(d\mright)=50\cdot\mleft(3/2\mright)^d$

To find the number of people who had the flu at the beginning (d = 0), we have:

$\begin{gathered} f\mleft(d\mright)=50\cdot\mleft(\frac{3}{2}\mright)^d \\ d=0 \\ f(0)=50\cdot(\frac{3}{2})^0=50\cdot1=50 \\ f(0)=50 \\ \therefore Only\text{ 50 people had the flu at the beginning of the epidermic} \end{gathered}$