Question

On January 1, 2020 you bought a male and female gerbil. 4 months later on May 1st, they mate and have a male and female baby. Every 4 months your gerbil population continues to double on the 1st of the month.How many gerbils will you have on December 1, 2021?

Answer 1

To calculate the gerbil population, start with two gerbils and double the number every four months. By December 1, 2021, the gerbil population will have doubled 5 times since the first pair produced offspring, resulting in a total of 128 gerbils.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find out how many gerbils you will have on December 1, 2021, we can use the information provided about the gerbil population doubling every 4 months. Starting with two gerbils on January 1, 2020, and assuming they first reproduce on May 1, 2020, we have a timeline that looks like this:

• May 1, 2020: 2 original + 2 babies = 4 gerbils
• September 1, 2020: 4 gerbils double to 8
• January 1, 2021: 8 gerbils double to 16
• May 1, 2021: 16 gerbils double to 32
• September 1, 2021: 32 gerbils double to 64

By December 1, 2021, the population will have doubled once more from the September count, so:

• December 1, 2021: 64 gerbils double to 128 gerbils.

It is important to note that the information provided about gestation and maturity periods for great apes does not apply to gerbils. These details, therefore, do not impact our calculation for the gerbil population.

Answer 2

We will determine the final population as follows:

`p=2(2)^6\Rightarrow p=128`

So, 24 months later (From Jan 1, 2020 to Dec 1, 2021) we will have that the population of Gerbils we would have, would be 128 Gerbils [Since they double each 4 months].