A biologist is comparing the growth of a population of flies per week to the number of flies a bullfrog will consume per week. She has devised an equation to solve for which day (x) the bullfrog would be able to eat the entire population. The equation is 2^x = 3x - 1. However, she has observed that the bullfrog cannot eat more than seven flies in one week.

Explain to the biologist how she can solve this on a graph using a system of equations. Identify any possible constraints to the situation.

Question

A biologist is comparing the growth of a population of flies per week to the number of flies a bullfrog will consume per week. She has devised an equation to solve for which day (x) the bullfrog would be able to eat the entire population. The equation is 2^x = 3x - 1. However, she has observed that the bullfrog cannot eat more than seven flies in one week.

Explain to the biologist how she can solve this on a graph using a system of equations. Identify any possible constraints to the situation.

misssunshinexxoxo · Answer

Previous OS question http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/5372fefbe4b0c1175e755dc4

anonymous · Answer

I looked at that, and I still don't understand how they went from "2^x = 3x -1"
to "y = _____" . I don't understand where the "y" came from.

misssunshinexxoxo · Answer

Y is the dependent variable

anonymous · Answer

I understand that, but how do they get "y" if it wasn't even in the equation in the first place?

anonymous · Answer

Could you help me solve it step by step please?

misssunshinexxoxo · Answer

y = 3x -1

anonymous · Answer

2^x = 3x - 1
so then
2^x = y
but y also equals "3x - 1"?

misssunshinexxoxo · Answer

Exactly

anonymous · Answer

y = 3x -1
y = 2^x
2^x = 3x-1 
y = y????

anonymous · Answer

@misssunshinexxoxo 
I still don't understand

anonymous · Answer

Never mind, I figured it out.