AP Environmental Science Math Exam Strategies

The video tutorial by Mr. Smeeds covers essential math skills needed for the APES exam, including percent change, working with percentages, unit conversion, and dimensional analysis. It provides tips for tackling FRQ questions and highlights the importance of including units in answers. The tutorial also explores niche calculations such as primary productivity and half-life, ensuring students are well-prepared for both multiple-choice and FRQ sections of the exam.

What percentage of the FRQ questions are calculation-based?

• 60%

• 12 to 13%

• 20%

• 6 to 9%

How many calculation-based questions can you expect in the multiple choice section?

• 12 to 13

• 20

• 5 to 7

• 6 to 9

What is the first tip for FRQ math questions?

• Convert percentages into decimals

• Use dimensional analysis

• Include units in your setup and answer

• Memorize the percent change formula

What is essential to earn points in FRQ math questions?

• Units in setup and answer

• Decimal points

• Correct formula

• Rounded answers

How is percent change calculated?

• Old value divided by new value times 100

• New value minus old value times 100

• Old value minus new value times 100

• New value minus old value divided by old value

What is the main purpose of dimensional analysis?

• To calculate primary productivity

• To calculate percent change

• To work with percentages

• To convert between units

What is the rule of 10 used for?

• Calculating population growth rates

• Determining energy availability across trophic levels

• Calculating percent change

• Converting units

What does one kilowatt hour represent?

• 1000 watts used over one hour

• 100 watts used over 10 hours

• 10 watts used over 100 hours

• 1 watt used over 1000 hours

What does the rule of 70 help to determine?

• Percent change

• Population doubling time

• Energy availability

• Half-life of elements

What is the half-life of uranium-235?

• 704 years

• 70.4 million years

• 704 million years

• 70.4 years