A zoo has 80 adult elephants and 100 calves. For a healthy captive breeding program, the ideal adult to calf ratio should be 1:1.5. How many more calves need to be added to achieve this ratio?
Answer
20 calves
The correct answer is 20 calves — Hence, 20 more calves are required.
Step-by-step solution
- Calculate the ideal number of calves for 80 adults: 80 × 1.5 = 120 calves.
- Determine the shortfall by subtracting the current number of calves: 120 - 100 = 20 calves.
- Hence, 20 more calves are required.
Common mistake: Misinterpreting the ratio as calf:adult rather than adult:calf
Concept tested: Captive breeding population ratios
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
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