Hardy Weinberg Principle: Calculating Allele Frequency in a Fish Population

[xChee]

Homework Statement

In a population on fish, 40 have red eyes and 260 have blue eyes. Allele for red is dominant over blue alleles. Use hardy Weinberg principle to calculate the frequency of the white and red allele.

Homework Equations

p² + 2pq + q² = 1

q + p = 1

The Attempt at a Solution

p = 96.67 %

i took 40 and divided it by 300 and for 13.3% as my answer. but i got it wrong...I'm pretty much stuck, help?

 

[Borek]

Assuming p is the frequency of the dominant allele, can you use p & q to express what fraction of the population has red eyes?

Note: $\frac{40}{300}$ is the fraction of the population with red eyes, but it is not equal to p.

 

[Ygggdrasil]

It is also helpful is to express the fraction of the population that has blue eyes in terms of q.

 

[Borek]

It is also helpful is to express the fraction of the population that has blue eyes in terms of q.

Good point. Much simpler than what I attempted to do.