Question

Question 13 Dr. Blake is a zoologist who studies giant pandas. Giant pandas are very tiny when they are born but grow to be quite large. The function "f" ( "x" )f(x) gives the weight, in pounds, of a particular female panda when she was "x"xyears old. What does "f" ( 4 ) equals "f" ( 30 )f(4)=f(30) tell you?

Answer 1

The statement \( f(4) = f(30) \) indicates that the weight of the female panda at 4 years old is equal to her weight at 30 years old. This could suggest several things:

1. Stunted Growth or Weight Fluctuation: It may indicate that the panda experienced stunted growth or weight fluctuation at certain stages of her life, resulting in her weight at a young age (4 years) being the same as at an older age (30 years). This could be due to health issues, nutritional factors, or environmental conditions.

2. Weight Plateau: The panda may have reached a weight plateau where she stops gaining significant weight after a certain point, suggesting that her maximum weight was achieved around 4 years old and maintained until she was 30.

3. Long Lifespan: Since pandas are known to live for several decades in captivity, this might mean that her weight is stable during her adult life after reaching a certain age.

In any case, this observation warrants further investigation into the growth patterns and health status of the panda during her life.