A conservationist monitors the population of a rare lizard species on a remote island. The population, PPP, was recorded every 5 years from 1 January 2000 until 2025. The population size is modelled by the equation
P=kmn P = km^n P=kmnwhere nnn is the number of years since 1 January 2000 and kkk and mmm are constants.
Show that P=kmnP = km^nP=kmn can be written as log10P=log10k+nlog10m\log_{10} P = \log_{10} k + n \log_{10} mlog10P=log10k+nlog10m.
The values of log10P\log_{10} Plog10P against nnn are plotted on a graph, and a line of best fit is drawn. The line of best fit passes through the points (0,1.48)(0, 1.48)(0,1.48) and (25,2.73)(25, 2.73)(25,2.73). Find estimates for the values of kkk and mmm, giving your answers to three significant figures.
Use your model to predict the year in which the lizard population will first reach 2000.
Comment on the reliability of your prediction in part (c).
104 exam-style questions on OCR (MEI) A Level Maths 1.8 Exponentials and Logarithms, covering 1.8.1 The function y = a^x, 1.8.2 Convert between index and logarithmic form, 1.8.3 Logarithm as inverse of exponential, 1.8.4 Laws of logarithms, 1.8.5 Values of log_a a and log_a 1, 1.8.6 Solve equations of the form a^x = b, 1.8.7 Reduce y = ax^n and y = ab^x to linear form, 1.8.8 The function y = e^x, 1.8.9 Gradient of e^kx (A-level only), 1.8.10 The function y = ln x, and 1.8.11 Exponential growth and decay. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.