In message <[log in to unmask]>, Robert
Brenchley <[log in to unmask]> writes
>    The methods suggested will estimate the number of bees actually present
>in the hive, and this may well be the best available approximation, but how
>many more bees may be out foraging? Is this likely to introduce a significant
>error?
I like to give children (and adults) the question "How many bees are
foraging at this moment?" hint "How many are leaving per second and
arriving per second?" and "How long do you think they are out?" I have
never come across anyone who has worked it out without both hints. At
5/sec and 20 min that's 6000 - adjust at will.
--
James Kilty