approximately 2400 squawfish at the Dam. Later, 216 squawfish were recaptured and 9 of them had tags. How many squawfish would you estimate are in the area?

Question

A team of biologists captured and tagged approximately 2400 northern squawfish at the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. Later, 216 squawfish were recaptured and 9 of them had tags. How many squawfish would you estimate are in the area?

Answer 1

Set up a proportion:

 

     9 tagged fish               2400 tagged fish

----------------------------  =  --------------------------

216 recaptured fish                  P

 

Where P = the Total Squawfish Population.  To solve, cross multiply:

 

9*P = 216*2400

 

P = 216*2400/9

 

Solve for P.