A researcher who was conducting a study caught, tagged, and released 95 opossums. Weeks later, the researcher caught a total of 170 opossums, of which 19 were tagged. To the nearest whole number, what is the best estimate for the opossum population?
Q. A researcher who was conducting a study caught, tagged, and released 95 opossums. Weeks later, the researcher caught a total of 170 opossums, of which 19 were tagged. To the nearest whole number, what is the best estimate for the opossum population?
Set up proportion: Step 1: Set up the proportion based on the capture-recapture method.We know:- Tagged opossums found: 19- Total opossums caught in second round: 170- Total opossums tagged initially: 95Let N be the estimated opossum population.The proportion is set as:17019=N95
Solve for N: Step 2: Solve for N by cross-multiplying.Cross-multiplying gives:19×N=95×170
Continue solving for N: Step 3: Continue solving for N.19×N=16150N=1916150N=850
More problems from Estimate population size using proportions