Note: Enter your answer and show all the steps that you use to solve this problem in the space provided. A researcher tagged 40 giant turtles in 2008. In 2009, she returned and captured 50 turtles, 16 of which were tagged. In 2010, she returned again and captured 30 turtles, 8 of which were tagged. Use a proportion to estimate the turtle population for 2009. Use a proportion to estimate the turtle population for 2010.
To estimate the turtle population for 2009, we can set up a proportion:
tagged turtles in 2009 / total turtles in 2009 = tagged turtles in 2008 / total turtle population
Plugging in the given numbers, we get:
16 / 50 = 40 / x
Solving for x, we get:
x = (50 x 40) / 16 = 125
Therefore, we can estimate the turtle population in 2009 to be 125.
Similarly, to estimate the turtle population for 2010, we can set up a proportion:
tagged turtles in 2010 / total turtles in 2010 = tagged turtles in 2008 / total turtle population
Plugging in the given numbers, we get:
8 / 30 = 40 / x
Solving for x, we get:
x = (30 x 40) / 8 = 150
Therefore, we can estimate the turtle population in 2010 to be 150.