for a science fair project, a group of students decides to estimate the population of muskrats living in the…

for a science fair project, a group of students decides to estimate the population of muskrats living in the nearby forest. they trap 148 muskrats and mark them. then, a week later, they return to the forest and trap 490 muskrats, 37 of which are marked. to the nearest whole number, what is the best estimate for the muskrat population?

for a science fair project, a group of students decides to estimate the population of muskrats living in the nearby forest. they trap 148 muskrats and mark them. then, a week later, they return to the forest and trap 490 muskrats, 37 of which are marked. to the nearest whole number, what is the best estimate for the muskrat population?

Answer

Explanation:

Step1: Set up proportion

Let $x$ be the total muskrat population. The proportion is $\frac{\text{marked in first - catch}}{\text{total population}}=\frac{\text{marked in second - catch}}{\text{size of second - catch}}$, so $\frac{148}{x}=\frac{37}{490}$.

Step2: Cross - multiply

$37x = 148\times490$.

Step3: Solve for $x$

First, calculate $148\times490 = 72520$. Then $x=\frac{72520}{37}=1960$.

Answer:

1960