Question

A worker at a local aquarium is instructed to estimate the population of anchovies in the tank. She catches 32 anchovies, marks them with special paint, and returns them to the tank. Then she catches 950 anchovies and finds that 16 of them are marked. To the nearest whole number, what is the best estimate for the anchovy population?

Answer 1

1900

Explanation:

Use a proportion:

16 is to 950 as 32 is to x.

16/950 = 32/x

32/16 = x/950

x/950 = 2

x = 1900

Answer: 1900