Answer
a) The population in California in 2010 was $37.3$ million.
b) It will take around $8$ years for the population to reach $40$ million in the year $2018$.
Work Step by Step
a) $A = 37.3e^{0.0095t}$
$A = 37.3e^{0.0095(0)}$
$A = 37.3e^{0}$
$A = 37.3(1)$
$A = 37.3$ million
The population in California in 2010 was $37.3$ million.
b) $40 = 37.3e^{0.0095t}$
$\frac{40}{37.3} = e^{0.0095t}$
$\ln (\frac{40}{37.3}) = 0.0095t$
$t = \frac{(\ln \frac{40}{37.3})}{0.0095}$
$t = 7.3564...$ years (If its $7$ years then the population will be less than $40$ million, but $8$ years will be over $40$ million.)
$t \approx 8 $years
It will take around $8$ years for the population to reach $40$ million in the year $2018$.
