Question

This passage describes prey preference in garter snakes.

a garter snake
Garter snakes eat slugs, fish, and other small animals. Some snakes eat certain types of prey more often than other types.
The prey preference trait determines what type of prey a garter snake usually eats. For example, a snake with a slug preference will eat mostly slugs, but a snake with a fish preference will eat mostly fish.
The table below describes a possible population of garter snakes at the start of a period of time and at the end of that period. The table shows prey preference in the population at each point in time.
Complete the table.
Data about a population of garter snakes
Point in time Number with a slug preference Number with a fish preference Percentage with a slug preference Percentage with a fish preference
Start 17 323
%
%
End 648 152
%
%

Answer 1

To complete the table, we need to calculate the percentages for the garter snakes with slug and fish preferences at both the start and end points in time.

**1. Starting Point:**

- Number with a slug preference = 17
- Number with a fish preference = 323

**Total = Number with a slug preference + Number with a fish preference**
Total = 17 + 323 = 340

**Percentage with a slug preference:**
\[
\text{Percentage with a slug preference} = \left(\frac{\text{Number with a slug preference}}{\text{Total}}\right) \times 100 = \left(\frac{17}{340}\right) \times 100 \approx 5\%
\]

**Percentage with a fish preference:**
\[
\text{Percentage with a fish preference} = \left(\frac{\text{Number with a fish preference}}{\text{Total}}\right) \times 100 = \left(\frac{323}{340}\right) \times 100 \approx 95\%
\]

**2. Ending Point:**

- Number with a slug preference = 648
- Number with a fish preference = 152

**Total = Number with a slug preference + Number with a fish preference**
Total = 648 + 152 = 800

**Percentage with a slug preference:**
\[
\text{Percentage with a slug preference} = \left(\frac{\text{Number with a slug preference}}{\text{Total}}\right) \times 100 = \left(\frac{648}{800}\right) \times 100 = 81\%
\]

**Percentage with a fish preference:**
\[
\text{Percentage with a fish preference} = \left(\frac{\text{Number with a fish preference}}{\text{Total}}\right) \times 100 = \left(\frac{152}{800}\right) \times 100 = 19\%
\]

Now we can fill in the final table:

| Point in time | Number with a slug preference | Number with a fish preference | Percentage with a slug preference | Percentage with a fish preference |
|---------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Start | 17 | 323 | 5% | 95% |
| End | 648 | 152 | 81% | 19% |