Question

In a pond, there were 40 lotus plants. After a year, the number rose to 56. Calculate the birth rate of a lotus plant.

Answer 1

In a pond, the birth rate of a lotus plant is calculated by dividing the increase in the number of plants by the initial number of plants.

Given:

Initial plants = 40,

After a year = 56,

The increase = 56 − 40 = 16

Thus,

Birth rate = `16/40`

= 0.4 offspring per lotus plant per year.

This means each lotus plant produces 0.4 new plants on average annually.