Problem of the Week - Algebra and Up - Feb. 21, 2021 to Feb. 27, 2021

Algebra and Up:

Question: A biologist is monitoring a flock of toucans. The biologist determines that the number of toucans in the flock can be estimated using the function f(n) = 22 + 3n, where n is the number of toucan nests that the biologist counts in the flock's territory. If the biologist estimates that there are 37 toucans in the territory, then how many nests did they count? 

Answer: 5 nests

Solution:  If the biologist estimates that there are 37 toucans, then  f(n) = 37. Since we know that f(n) = 37 and that f(n) = 22 + 3n, we can reason that 37 = 22 + 3n. We can solve for n by first subtracting to get 15 = 3n and then dividing to get 5 = n. If n = 5, then the biologist counted 5 nests.