Answer :
This really looks like a multiplication here. Let me see if this can be helpful to you: If we proceed like this:
8 million * 0.12 = increase /year
The only thing you need to do now is multiply it with number of years between 1998 to 2004 then add it to 8 million. That is how you can solve it
8 million * 0.12 = increase /year
The only thing you need to do now is multiply it with number of years between 1998 to 2004 then add it to 8 million. That is how you can solve it