Answer:
a. 16; b. aₙ = 4ⁿ⁻¹; c. predation and carrying capacity will limit the population
Step-by-step explanation:
a. The first female had 4 pups.
If each of them had 4 pups, there would be 4 × 4 = 4² = 16 pups.
b. 1st generation = 1 pup
2nd generation = 4 × 1 pup = 4 pups
3rd generation = 4 × 4 pups = 16 pups
4th generation = 4 × 16 pups = 64 pups
5th generation = 4 × 64 pups = 256 pups
The sequence is 1, 4, 16, 64, 256, …
We can also write it as 4⁰, 4¹, 4², 4³, 4⁴, …
Note that the exponent is one less than the number of the generation.
Thus, the general formula for the nth term, aₙ, is
aₙ = 4ⁿ⁻¹, where
n = the number of the generation
a = the number of pups in that generation.
c. a₂₅ = 4²⁵⁻¹ = 4²⁴ ≈ 281 000 000 000 000 or 281 trillion
The population would not reach that number because there would not be enough food for all those pups. Pups would die of starvation until their numbers equalled the carrying capacity of the ecosystem and would level off at that point.
There would also be increased predation by coyotes, bobcats, etc. This would also keep the population growth in check,
