Use the data in the table below. Given the exponential model a * b^x = (5,939,292)(1.028)^x for population growth for the state of Arizona, with x representing the number of years after 2005, estimate the population for the state of Arizona in the year 2012.
Population by state
Source: US Census Bureau
December 22, 2005
State July 1, 2005 July 1, 2004 July 1, 2003 July 1, 2002 July 1, 2001 July 1, 2000
Alabama 4,557,808 4,525,375 4,501,862 4,480,139 4,467,461 4,452,339
Arizona 5,939,292 5,739,879 5,577,784 5,438,159 5,295,929 5,165,993
California 36,132,147 35,842,038 35,456,602 34,988,088 34,526,660 34,002,756
District of Columbia 550,521 554,239 557,846 564,624 569,321 571,044
Florida 17,789,864 17,385,430 16,993,369 16,677,860 16,350,565 16,048,887
Maryland 5,600,388 5,561,332 5,512,477 5,442,268 5,379,591 5,311,543
Texas 22,859,968 22,471,549 22,099,136 21,722,394 21,333,606 20,949,354