After a devastating winter, when thousands of fish died, an environmental scientist has replenished the trout stock in a fishing pond. He started with 5,000 baby trout and has finished a count to find that, in 8 years, the population is estimated to be 33,000. Assuming an exponential growth pattern, what is the annual growth rate (rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent) of the new trout population? Hint: A(t) = A0(1 + r)t, where A(t) is the final amount, A0 is the initial amount, r is the growth rate expressed as a decimal, and t is time. (4 points)

26.6%

2.7%

79.0%

24.4%