Question

MEDAL AND FAN. NEED HELP WITH THIS!!!!

A biologist is comparing the growth of a population of flies per week to the number of flies a lizard will consume per week. She has devised an equation to solve for which day (x) the lizard would be able to eat the entire population. The equation is 3x = 5x − 1.

Explain to the biologist how she can solve this on a graph using a system of equations.

Answer 1

the equation is written incorrectly

Answer 2

3^2=5x-1 @alekos

Answer 3

still not right

Answer 4

It's not 2. It's 3^x=5x-1 @alekos

Answer 5

This is what it shows.

Answer 6

thats better!

Answer 7

Can you help? I'm confused on how to explain it.

Answer 8

yep. The growth of flies is governed by the equation y=3^x and the consumption of flies is y=5x-1. So start by graphing these two equations.

Answer 9

The day that all the flies are consumed is the point of intersection of these two equations

Answer 10

So my graphs look like this

Answer 11

yes, good job using desmos. so the first point of intersection looks like x = 0.5 (half a day). Just click on that point and it'll give you the x value

Answer 12

Ok. So whats next?

Answer 13

thats it, the solution is the 1st point of intersection of the two equations

Answer 14

Ok. Thank you so much!!!!

Answer 15

no problem you're welcome