a game forester tags 20 rabbits in the woods. the next month he returns and observes a sample of 12 rabbits, 5 of which are tagged and a sample of 25 rabbits, 9 of which are tagged. if the 2 samples are representative of the rabbit population, which is the best estimate of the number of rabbits in the woods?

Question

a game forester tags 20 rabbits in the woods.  the next month he returns and observes a sample of 12 rabbits, 5 of which are tagged and a sample of 25 rabbits, 9 of which are tagged.  if the 2 samples are representative of the rabbit population, which is the best estimate of the number of rabbits in the woods?

zehanz · Answer

I'd see it as one big sample of 37 animals, of which 5+9=14 are tagged.
So 14/37 is tagged. (about 0.378th)
If you divide 20 by 14/37, you get an estimate of the total number of rabbits.