Robin wants to find out the number of salamanders by a pond near her house. She catches 45 of them, puts a leg band on each salamander, and puts them back by the pond. The next week, she catches 50 salamanders. Of those 50 salamanders, 3 have a leg band. Using this information, what is a reasonable estimate of the number of salamanders by the pond?

Question

Mathematics

Timothy Mueller

31 May, 17:57

Robin wants to find out the number of salamanders by a pond near her house. She catches 45 of them, puts a leg band on each salamander, and puts them back by the pond. The next week, she catches 50 salamanders. Of those 50 salamanders, 3 have a leg band. Using this information, what is a reasonable estimate of the number of salamanders by the pond?

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Alan Weaver · Answer 1

Given:

1st week: caught 45 salamanders and put leg bands on them

2nd week: caught 50 salamanders and 3 have leg bands

3/50 = 0.06 of the salamander population have leg bands.

45 / 0.06 = 750 total number of salamanders

45/750 = 0.06 or 6%

The reasonable estimate of the number of salamanders by the pond is 750 salamanders.