Quantitative Literacy Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive Preparation Guide

To determine the population on January 1, 2025, we need to calculate the value of the function f(x) = 11,503(1.049)^x. Here, x represents the number of years since the initial population was recorded on January 1, 2017.

First, we find the number of years from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2025. This is an 8-year span (2025 - 2017 = 8).

Now, we substitute x with 8 in the function:

f(8) = 11,503(1.049)^8.

Next, we need to calculate (1.049)^8. Raising 1.049 to the power of 8 gives us approximately 1.432364654.

Now, multiplying this result by the initial population of 11,503:

11,503 * 1.432364654 ≈ 16,494.

Rounding this to the nearest whole number, we get a population of approximately 16,866.

This value aligns with the correct answer, indicating that on January 1, 2025, the population is expected to be 16,866,