In: Math
Farmers wishing to avoid the use of purchased seeds are increasingly concerned about inadvertently growing hybrid plants as a result of pollen drifting from nearby farms. Assuming that these farmers raise their own seeds, the fractional portion of their crop that remains free of hybrid plants t years later can be approximated by P(t)=(0.93)^ t.
a) Using this model, predict the fractional portion of the crop that will be free of hybrid plants 10 yr after a neighboring farm begins to use purchased seeds.
b) Find P' (10) and explain its meaning.
c) When will half of the crop be hybrid plants?
Use of mathematical model of the contamination of crop by hybrid plants with time to draw quantitative inferences.