Question

1. a populations growth rate is the change in its population size per unit of time.
2. the naked mole rat population grew by approximately the same number of individuals every three months, so it had a constant growth rate. a population with a constant growth rate exhibits linear growth. on a graph, linear growth is modeled by a straight line.

naked mole rat population
graph with population size (p) on y - axis (21,24,27,30,33,36,39) and time elapsed (months, t) on x - axis (3,6,9,12), line plot from (0,24) to (12,36)

1. complete the sentence.
2. the naked mole rat population had a growth rate of about __ mole rats every three months.

options: 3, 12, 24, 36

Explanation:

Step1: Identify initial and later population

At \( t = 0 \) (0 months), population \( P_0 = 24 \). At \( t = 3 \) months, population \( P_3 = 27 \).

Step2: Calculate growth in 3 months

Growth rate = \( P_3 - P_0 = 27 - 24 = 3 \). Check other points: At \( t = 6 \), \( P_6 = 30 \), \( 30 - 27 = 3 \); at \( t = 9 \), \( P_9 = 33 \), \( 33 - 30 = 3 \); at \( t = 12 \), \( P_{12} = 36 \), \( 36 - 33 = 3 \). So the growth rate every 3 months is 3.

Answer:

3