Question

Scientists have found that the life span of a mammal living in captivity is related to the mammals mass. The life span in years L can be approximated by the formula L=12m^1/5, where m is the mammal's mass in kilograms. How much longer is the life span of a lion compared with that of a wolf?
wolf=32 kg
lion=243 kg

Answer 1

To know the life span of the wolf and the lion, we simply substitute their mass to the formula for L.

Mass of wolf:
$L=12 m^{ \frac{1}{5} }= 12 (32)^{ \frac{1}{5} }=24$

Mass of lion:
$L=12 m^{ \frac{1}{5} }= 12 (243)^{ \frac{1}{5} }=36$

Therefore, the wolf has a life span of 24 and the lion has a life span of 36. With this information, we can determine how much longer the life span of the lion is:
$36-24=12$

ANSWER: The life span of the lion is 12 longer than the life span of the wolf.