SOLUTION: Hello, to anyone that can help, this is a story problem and the bane of my existance. I will be appreciative to anyone who can help. Here it is: To estimate animal populations,

Question 171905: Hello, to anyone that can help, this is a story problem and the bane of my existance. I will be appreciative to anyone who can help. Here it is:
To estimate animal populations, biologists count the total number of animals in a small section of a habitat. The total population of animals is directly proportional to the size of the habitat (in acres) polled.First we are asked to a write an equation using only one variable that could be used to solve for the constant of variation k.
Then it says that they surveyed 100 miles of ground and found 12 deer. They want the constant of variation k.
And the third part to the question: if the entire nature preserve is 2,500 acres, then what is the total white tail deer population in the preserve?
I think that the first question might be y=kx? But I can't be sure and then I cannot figure out how that affects problem number two. I think the third one is just a simple ration or proportion equation that would be
100/12=2500/x which would make x 300. Again not sure, and can't figure out how this fits in with the first two parts of the question. Please help, and thank you in advance
Answer by Mathtut(3670) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The only way this makes sense to me is if the 100 miles surveyed is square miles.....then you can figure out how many acres were observed. 100 sq miles would be 528000 sq ft. if you divide this by sq ft per acre which is 43560 you arrive at the amount of acres in this section....which would be 12.12 acres in 100 sq miles...so appx 12 deer were seen over a 12 acre spread.
the proportion would be 12/12=1 where 1 is the constant k.
:
so for 2500 acres we would have x/2500=1..meaning total deer population for the preserve would be 2500 deer.