AP Biology - graphing review

AP Biology - graphing review

Graphing on the AP Bio exam

Free response question #2 requires constructing a graph, chart, or table, as well as interpreting error bars.

We know this question is coming, so these are easy points if we take a bit of time to prepare!

Independent vs dependent variables

Read the website to refresh your knowledge, then check your understanding by answering the quiz questions.

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Multiple Choice

What would the DEPENDENT variable be in an experiment testing which paper airplane design goes the furthest when thrown?

• the paper used

• the paper airplane design

• the distance of each plane's flight

• how hard the plane is thrown

Multiple Choice

What would the INDEPENDENT variable be in an experiment testing which paper airplane design goes the furthest when thrown?

• the paper used

• the paper airplane design

• the distance of each plane's flight

• how hard the plane is thrown

Multiple Choice

The variable that is measured throughout the experiment is the ________________

Hint: What you are testing and change as a result of your testing.

• Controlled Variable

• Responsive Variable

• Dependent Variable

• Independent Variable

Multiple Choice

What is an independent variable?

• the variable that changes because another variable changes

• independent variables are only found on pie charts.

• a variable most often found on the y-axis

• the variable the experimenter manipulates or has control over

Selecting a type of graph

Read through the slides to refresh your knowledge, then check your understanding by answering the quiz questions.

Bar graph vs line graph

• Bar graphs present categorical data

• Line graphs present continuous data

Use a bar graph for categorical data

• Categorical data is when the data falls into distinct groups

• The is no possible values "in between" categorical data, which is why a line graph is not appropriate

• Examples: heads vs tails, dogs vs cats, birds living on an island or the mainland, etc.

Use a line graph for continuous data

• Continuous data can take any value (within a range)

• There are possible data points "in between" observed data, even if those data were not collected

• Examples: time, temperature, distance

Multiple Choice

A student is investigating the effect of light on the carbon cycle. They have beakers filled with water, plants, and/or fish which they place in light or dark conditions. They measure CO₂ concentration to determine the rate of respiration/photosynthesis.

What is the independent variable in this experiment?

• Light vs dark conditions

• CO₂ concentration

Multiple Choice

A student is investigating the effect of light on the carbon cycle. They have beakers filled with water, plants, and/or fish which they place in light or dark conditions. They measure CO₂ concentration to determine the rate of respiration/photosynthesis.

What is the best way to represent these data?

• As a line graph

• As a bar graph

• Either is acceptable

Multiple Choice

<-- Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graph.

What is the independent variable in this experiment?

• Time (min)

• Percent transmittance

Multiple Choice

<-- Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graph.

What is the best way to represent these data?

• As a line graph

• As a bar graph

• Either is acceptable

Making conclusions using error bars

Watch the youtube video to refresh your knowledge, then check your understanding by answering the quiz questions.

Multiple Choice

Sample E and Sample F:

• Are significantly different

• Are not significantly different

Multiple Choice

Sample C and Sample D

• Have overlapping error bars and are not significantly different.

• Have overlapping error bars and are significantly different.

• Have error bars that do not over lap and are not significantly different.

• Have error bars that do not over lap and are significantly different.

Multiple Choice

The hot and warm glow sticks will glow for a significantly different amount of time from each other.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

<-- Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graph.

Based on the graph, does exercise increase prolactin levels?

• Yes, because after exercise prolactin increases by ~1 nmol/L

• Yes, because the error bars comparing before and after exercise overlap.

• No, because the without exercise group shows a decrease in prolactin after 1 hour.

• No, because the error bars comparing before and after exercise overlap.

Multiple Choice

<-- Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graph.

One study compared testosterone oxido-reductase activity between male and female alligators from Lake Woodruff, a relatively pristine environment, and from Lake Apopka, an area that has suffered severe contamination.

The data in the graph best support which of the following claims?

• Environmental contamination elevates total testosterone oxido-reductase activity in females.

• Environmental contamination reduces total testosterone oxido-reductase activity in females.

• Environmental contamination elevates total testosterone oxido-reductase activity in males.

• Environmental contamination reduces total testosterone oxido-reductase activity in males.

Graphing practice

Use your own paper to answer the two practice free response questions (FRQs) from previous AP exams on the following slides.

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Check your work

Use the scoring guides on the following slides to self-grade your responses to the FRQs.

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