To estimate the size of the bear population on the Keweenaw Peninsula, conservationists captured, tagged, and released 50 bears. One year later, a random sample of 100 bears included only 2 tagged bears. What is the conservationist's estimate of the size of the bear population?

Question

rock_mit182 · Answer

@mathmate  @sourwing

rock_mit182 · Answer

@Whitemonsterbunny17  @kropot72  @ganeshie8

astrophysics · Answer

Just wondering, is there more information, you have to make an equation.

ganeshie8 · Answer

if 2 represents the sample(100 bears)
then 50 may represent the population( 100*25 bears )?

astrophysics · Answer

Will require cross multiplication, we can let 

a = bear population

$$\frac{ a }{ 50 } = \frac{ 100 }{ 2 }$$

rock_mit182 · Answer

there is no more info..

rock_mit182 · Answer

so this is the property of extreme means ?

rock_mit182 · Answer

$$2*a = 50*100$$

rock_mit182 · Answer

$$a = \frac{ 50*100 }{ 2}$$

rock_mit182 · Answer

$$a = 2500$$

mathmate · Answer

@rock_mit182 Just curious, are you working on hypergeometric distributions?

mathmate · Answer

@rock_mit182 
are you there?

mathmate · Answer

@rock_mit182 
This problem seems to be a typical hypergeometric distribution example with size of population 919 or 920.

rock_mit182 · Answer

as a matter of fact.. are you a biologist ?

mathmate · Answer

I wish!   lol
Anyway, if you want to pursue the hypergeometric distribution route, let me know.