A primatologist in Africa observes a group of 24 chimpanzees. If 15 are males and 9 are females, and she wants to select a research subgroup of 6 chimpanzees with at least 2 males and at least 2 females, how many such subgroups can be formed?

Tue, 05 May 2026 21:31:49 +0000

**A primatologist in Africa observes a group of 24 chimpanzees. If 15 are males and 9 are females, and she wants to select a research subgroup of 6 chimpanzees with at least 2 males and at least 2 females, how many such subgroups can be formed?** In an era where deep-dive scientific inquiry meets growing public interest in animal behavior, a striking question arises: how many distinct research groups of 6 chimpanzees can a field primatologist form from a troop of 24—15 males and 9 females—while maintaining a balanced gender composition? With increasing focus on biodiversity and non-human primate social dynamics, this challenge reflects broader efforts to understand species through intentional, ethical subgroup selection. **Why This Research Matters in Current Conversations**
Advanced behavioral science demands precise and meaningful population modeling, especially in conservation and social evolution studies. Chimpanzee communities are complex social systems, often studying subgroups to analyze communication, hierarchy, and reproductive patterns. Recent trends show rising engagement with field data, especially from African field sites, where insight into primate group structure informs broader ecological strategies. A balanced subgroup—with at least two males and two females—enables statistically valid observations while respecting natural demographic patterns. This query captures the intersection of fieldwork precision and growing public curiosity about animal communities. **How to Calculate Balanced Subgroup Combinations**
To determine how many 6-member research subgroups meet the criteria—at least 2 males and at least 2 females—we use combinatorial reasoning grounded in inclusive counting. With 15 males and 9 females, the valid gender distributions include:
- 2 males, 4 females
- 3 males, 3 females
- 4 males, 2 females