Question

Researchers count 30 tagged zebras and 150 total zebras in an area of a game reserve. If researchers had previously tagged 80 total zebras at the game reserve, about how many total zebras live at the game reserve? Write a proportion to estimate the total population. (3 points)

Answer 1

please help :(

Answer 2

30/150 = 80/x

where "x" is the total # of zebras. What you do now is solve for "x". Cross-multiplication is a good way to go. The ratio here was set up as showing the same proportion of sample to population.

Answer 3

ok, so what you just wrote, on the top, it the equation i have to do? which is cross multiply?

Answer 4

*is

Answer 5

yes. Your problem asks only for an equation, not that you have to solve it, but it is good to do so.

The reason "30 of 150" is a sample is because you look for that little word "area". 150 were in that "area" and area is used as a "sample" here.

Answer 6

wow, ok, so when i do the math, i have to multipl 30, by x, and 150 by 80? :)

Answer 7

*multiply

Answer 8

Yes, that's the first step.

Answer 9

and then what do i do?

Answer 10

The second step is that you will take that 80 x 150 and divide that by 30 to get "x".

Answer 11

Hint: as a check, both sides of that original equation will be equal to 1/5. That's the whole reasoning behind this whole problem. 1/5 in sample. 1/5 in population.

Answer 12

ok, so 150, by 80 is....12,000?

Answer 13

haha yeah

Answer 14

was i right?

Answer 15

80 times 150 = 12000 -> 12000 / 30 = 400

So, 400 in the whole reserve as an estimate.

Answer 16

wow, your really good, thanks so much! :D this really helped

Answer 17

uw! Good luck to you in all of your studies and thx for the recognition! @gabaloolo

Answer 18

no probs, and also thank you :)