Answer:
15.5 million
Explanation:
The formula I used to solve this is Y = X + (X * R). X = current population, Y = projected population, R = growth rate.
Before we plug in our numbers, we have to convert the percentage to a decimal. This way, our numbers are all in the same units. (To use a metaphor to further explain - if I eat 100% of my cookie, I didn't eat 100 cookies. I ate 1 whole cookie. Similarly, a growth rate of 1.5% is not the same as the number 1.5, so we need to convert.)
The simplest way to convert a percentage to a decimal is to move the decimal point two places to the left. (I'm sure there's more correct math out there for this, but doing this will always work and I don't see a need to overcomplicate things LOL). That means 1.5% = 0.015
When we plug those numbers in and do the math, we get...
Y = 15,300,000 + (15,300,000 * 0.015)
Y = 15,300,000 + 229,500
Y = 15,529,500
