SOLUTION: A conservationist wants to estimate the number of trout in a lake. He begins by catching and tagging 100 trout. A week later, he catches 50 trout and finds that 17 of them are tr

Algebra ->  Functions -> SOLUTION: A conservationist wants to estimate the number of trout in a lake. He begins by catching and tagging 100 trout. A week later, he catches 50 trout and finds that 17 of them are tr      Log On


   

Question 887322: A conservationist wants to estimate the number of trout in a lake. He begins by catching and tagging
100 trout. A week later, he catches 50 trout and finds that 17 of them are trout that he tagged. What
will be his estimation of the number of trout in the lake?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is a dilution problem, and you could think of it as a proportion.

%28100%2Atags%29%2F%28P%2Apopulation%29=%2817%2Atags%2F%2850%2Apopulation%29%29
The units are included in the proportion, so without those units, this is
100%2FP=17%2F50

Solve for P.