Question

Two researchers are studying the decline of orangutan populations. In one study, a population of 784 orangutans is expected to decrease at a rate of 25 orangutans per year. In a second study, the population of a group of 817 orangutans is expected to decrease at a rate of 36 per year. After how many years will the two populations be the same?

Answer 1

in general

final population = initial population - (rate of decrease per year)(# of years)

write an equation of this format for each of the populations. let x = # of years for both equations. set the equations equal to each other and solve for x.