Question

In a predator/prey model the predator population is modeled by the function y=1000 sin (2t) +400. What is the smallest population according to this model?

Answer 1

y=1000 sin (2t) +400

sin(anything) lies between -1 and +1
so the smallest value of sin(2t) is -1
so the smallest value of
y = 1000(-1) + 400
= -600

But, it would make not make any sense to have a negative population, so my answer would be zero

Answer 2

thank you!