Final answer:
The population of caribou increased to 132 after the second year due to compounding growth. A 10% increase followed by a 20% increase on the new total leads to a compound increase, not a simple addition of percentages.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the population growth of the caribou herd, we apply the given percentage increases to the initial population of 100 caribou. In the first year, a 10% increase leads us to multiply the initial population by 1.10 (representing the original 100% plus the additional 10%). In the second year, we apply the 20% increase to the new population.
After the first year: 100 caribou × 1.10 = 110 caribou
After the second year: 110 caribou × 1.20 = 132 caribou
Explanation for Percentage Increase
The population did not increase by a simple 30% over the two years because the increases compound over time. The second year's 20% increase was applied to the new population total after the first year's increase had already occurred. This is known as compounding growth, where each year's growth builds upon the previous year's total.