MODELING UTAH POPULATION DATA: Math 1010 Intermediate Algebra Group Project

Cassie Baldwin
September 11, 2014

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population Division, the population of Utah
appears to have increased linearly over the years from 1980 to 2008. The following table
shows the population in 100,000s living in Utah according to year. In this project, you will
use the data in the table to find a linear function f(x) that represents the data, reflecting the
change in population in Utah.

Estimates of Utah Resident Population, in 100,000s
Year 1981 1989 1993 1999 2005 2008
x 1 9 13 19 25 28
Population, y 15.2 17.1 19 22 25 27.4

1. Using a graph, plot the data given in the table as ordered pairs.

2. Draw on your graph what appears to be the line that best fits the data you plotted.


X Y (X,Y)
1 15.2 (1,15.2)
9 17.1 (9,17.1)
13 19 (13,19)
19 22 (19,22)
25 25 (25,25)
28 27.4 (28,27.4)
(1,15.2)
(9,17.1)
(13,19)
(19,22)
(25,25)
(28,27.4)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

P
O
P
U
L
A
T
I
O
N

I
N

1
0
0
,
0
0
0
S

YEARS AFTER 1980
Utah Population in 100,000's

3. Estimate the coordinates of two points that fall on your best-fitting line. Use these points to find
a linear function f(x) for the line.

(5,16) , (10,18)
f(x)=mx+b
16=2/5(5)+b

16=2+b
14=b
f(x)=2/5x+14

4. What is the slope of your line? Interpret its meaning. Does it make sense in the context of this
situation?

m=(y
1
-y
2
)/(x
1
-x
2
)
m=(18-16)/(10-5)
m=2/5
Every five years Utahs population grows by 200,000 people.

5. Find the value of f(45). Write a sentence interpreting its meaning in context.

f(x)=2/5x+14
f(45)=2/5(45)+14
f(45)=18+14
f(45)=32
In the year 2025, Utahs population will be 3,200,000 people.

6. Use your function to approximate in what year the residential population of Utah reached
2,000,000.

f(x)=2/5x+14
20=2/5x+14
6=2/5x
15=x
Utahs population was 2,000,000 people in 1995.

7. Compare your linear function with that of another student or group. Are they different? If so,
explain why.

Yes, our linear functions were slightly different because it is difficult to estimate where the line
of best fit is exactly and then to estimate again where two points would fall on that line. The
equations may not be exactly the same due to human error.

8. In actuality, using a linear growth model for population is not common. Most models are
exponential models, due to the fact that most populaations experience relative growth, i.e. 2%
growth per year. Linear models for nonlinear relationships like population work only within a
small time frame valid close to the time of the data modeled. Discuss some of the false
conslusions ou might reach if you use your linear model for times far from 1980-2008.

Using a linear graph doesnt work very well for populations because many factors go into a
population due to the demographic transition model. The stage which a population is in would
greatly alter the population depending on birth rate, infant death rate, age expectancy,
migration, and immigration. Different time periods have larger population growth than others
such as the Baby Boom in America in the 1940s and 1950s after the war opposed to the One
Child Policy in China.