Final answer:
The estimated number of female college students in 2009 is calculated using the formula M + 2.68, where M is the number of male students. Given 8.77 million male students, the estimated number of female students is 11.45 million.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate the number of female college students in 2009 given there were about 8.77 million male students, you would use the given relationship that the number of female students is approximately M + 2.68 million, where M represents male students in millions. Therefore, you would calculate:
Female students = Male students (M) + 2.68
Female students = 8.77 million + 2.68 million
Female students = 11.45 million
Thus, the estimated number of female students in college in 2009 if there were about 8.77 million male students is approximately 11.45 million.