Chapter 11: Problem 11
At the end of 2008 , the total reserve of a mineral was \(350,000 \mathrm{~m}^{3}\). In the year 2009 , about \(5000 \mathrm{~m}^{3}\) was used. Each year, consumption of the mineral is expected to increase by \(8 \%\). Under these assumptions, in how many years will all reserves of the mineral be depleted?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Calculate the consumption for the first year
Create the consumption sequence
Determine the number of years for depletion
Solve the equation for N
Conclusion on the number of years
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Understanding Consumption Growth
Consumption growth is a common consideration in resource management and economics.
- The initial amount is also known as the base consumption value, which is 5000 m³ in this case.
- Growth rate is expressed as a percentage—in this example, 8%.
- To determine the consumption for each subsequent year, multiply the previous year's consumption by the growth rate factor, which is 1.08 (reflecting the original amount and the 8% increase).
Understanding Reserve Depletion
- Every year, the total reserve is reduced by the amount consumed during that year.
- The depletion continues until the total consumption equals the total initial reserves.
- This model assumes no additional reserves are discovered or added.
Logarithmic Calculations Simplified
- Logarithms help "reverse" exponential calculations to find unknown variables—like the exact number of years before reserves run out.
- In our equation, we used the formula \[ (1.08)^N = 561 \] to express the problem. Here, the logarithm helps isolate \(N\), the unknown number of years.
- You achieve this by taking the log of both sides, allowing for the equation to be rewritten as: \[ N \times \log(1.08) = \log(561) \]
Finally, remember that logarithms also follow special rules, simplifying how we deal with rapid growth scenarios like in our mineral reserve problem. By applying these rules, we determine the precise timeline for when the reserves will last.