Answer
$\approx602,643$ people
Work Step by Step
Exponential growth can be modeled by the function $y=C(1+r)^{x}$ (where C is the initial amount present, r is the growth rate, and x is the number of time intervals measured).
In this case, 2018 is $(2018-2000)=18$ years after 2000, so $x=18$. We are also given that the growth rate is 4.2% per year and the population in 2000 was 287,370.
Therefore, the population can be estimated by plugging these values into the given function.
$y=287370(1+.042)^{18}=287370(2.097)\approx602,643$ people
