The number of students enrolled at a college is 17,000 and grows \( 3 \% \) each year. Complete parts (a) through (e). a) The initial amount a is 17,000 . b) The percent rate of change is \( 3 \% \), so the growth factor b is \( 1+\square=\square \).

The growth factor \( b \) can be calculated as \( 1 + \frac{3}{100} = 1.03 \). So, your growth factor for the annual increase is \( 1.03 \), which means your student population is increasing by a factor of 1.03 each year! To add a bit more historical flavor to this scenario, many educational institutions have seen similar enrollment growth over time, especially during periods of economic prosperity. For instance, colleges in the U.S. experienced significant enrollment increases after World War II due to the GI Bill, which greatly expanded access to higher education. Just like the 3% growth described here, those trends helped shape the modern landscape of college education!