41.The population of a species of rabbit triples every year. This can be modeled by f(x) = 4(3)x and f(5) = 972. What does the 3 represent?
The starting population of the rabbits
The population of the rabbits after five years
The rate the population increases
The number of years that have passed
The starting population of the rabbits
The population of the rabbits after five years
The rate the population increases
The number of years that have passed
