Question

A scientist was studying a population of elephants. The first year, he counted a population of 80. Over the next eight years, the population’s numbers were 94, 100, 103, 110, 125, 120, 125, 120. What appears to be the carrying capacity for this population?

120
124
125
126

Answer 1

C. 125

Explanation: I got it right!

Answer 2

The carrying capacity of this population would be 125. We know this because we see that this number occurs multiple times and seems to be the tipping point after which the number of the population always goes down. With that said, we can make the inference that the carrying capacity probably is 125