Question

Before the pesticide, DDT, was released into the environment, the number of osprey nests along NJ's coast line was about 500. There were 50 nests by 1974 when the state put the bird on the endangered species list. After banning DDT and creating artificial nesting sites, the state's osprey population grew to 486 nests in 2009 and 542 nests by 2013. At the 2009 - 2013 growth rate of 10%, what will the osprey nest population be in 2015?

a.) 588 nests
b.) 596 nests
c.) 656 nests d.) 674 nests
e.) 700 nests

Answer 1

Using the 10% growth rate from 2009-2013, the estimated osprey nest population in 2015 would be about 656 nests.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the osprey nest population in 2015, we'll apply the mentioned growth rate of 10% in 2009 to the 2013 population of 542 nests. This is a problem involving exponential growth, where we add a certain percentage to our value each year.

Using the formula for exponential growth (final = initial * (1+rate))^time), we can calculate:

final = 542 nests * (1+10%)^2 = 542 nests * 1.1^2 = 542 nests * 1.21 = 656.02 nests.

Since we can't have a fraction of a nest, we round down, resulting in about 656 nests in 2015.

Learn more about Exponential Growth