Question #9b9bf

1 Answer
Stefan V.
Aug 6, 2017

"29 flies"

Explanation:

You know that the population of flies can be modeled by the function

p(x) = 5 * 2^x

Here x represents the number of weeks that pass in a given period of time.

You also know that a local spider consumes flies according to the function

s(x) = 3x + 2

Your goal here is to figure out the population of flies after 3 weeks, which basically means that you need to figure out how many flies are around at x = 3.

So, you know that after 3 weeks, you will have

p(3) = 5 * 2^3

p(3) = 5 * 8 = 40

This means that after 3 weeks, the population of flies will hit 40 individuals if no spider is present.

However, a spider is indeed present. In 3 weeks, the spider will consume

s(3) = 3 * 3 +2 = 11

flies. So at the end of this 3-week period, you will be left with

"40 flies"color(white)(.) - overbrace("11 flies")^(color(blue)("consumed by the spider")) = "29 flies"

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