15,000 blue trout were released into the Meherrin River for a scientific study. The function, f (x) = 15,000 (98) x, represents the number of blue trout after x years. In 5 years, what will happen to the population?

I'm guessing you mean f (x) = 15,000 (9/8) ^x. If this is what you mean, the population would increase by about 12,000 (12030.4870605 to be exact).

Step-by-step explanation:

Starting equation: f (x) = 15,000 (9/8) ^x

You can clean up the 9/8 to be 1.125

Now what you want to do is find the answer to (9/8) ^5 which is 1.8020324707

Next multiply 1.8020324707 by 15,000 and you get 27030.4870605

Finally 27,030.4870605 - 15,000 gives you 12030.4870605. Which means that the population increased by about 12,000.