Random Sampling Sunflower Activity

Name(s)___Rocco Racioppi_and Daniel __________________________
Random Sampling
PART 1
Scientists cannot possibly count every organism in a population. One way to estimate the size of a
population is to collect data by taking random samples. In this activity, you will look at how data obtained
from random sampling compare with data obtained by an actual count.
Procedure:
1. Tear a sheet of paper into 20 slips, each approximately 4cm x 4 cm ( no need to be precise ).
2. Number 10 of the slips from 1 to 10 and put them in a small container
3. Label the remaining 10 slips from A through J and put them in a second container.
The grid shown below represents a meadow measuring 10 m on each
side. Each grid segment is 1m x 1m. Each black circle represents one
sunflower plant.
4. Randomly remove one slip from each container. Write down the number-letter combination and find the
grid segment that matches the combination. Count the number of sunflower plants in that grid segment.
Repeat and fill out the data table. Include totals and averages.
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5. Repeat step 5 until you have data for 10 different grid segments (and the table is filled out). These 10 grid
segments represent a sample. Gathering data from a randomly selected sample of a larger area is called
sampling.
6. Find the total number of sunflower plants for the 10 segment sample. This is an estimation based on a
formula. Add all the grid segment sunflowers together and divide by ten to get an AVERAGE number of
sunflower plants per grid segment. Record this number in the table. Multiply the average number of
sunflower plants by 100 (this is the total number of grid segments) to find the total number of plants in the
meadow based on your sample. Record this number in your data table.
7. Now count all the sunflower plants actually shown in the meadow. Record this number in the data table
below. Divide this figure by 100 to calculate the average number of sunflower plants per each grid.
SUNFLOWER DATA
Grid Segment (number - letter) Number of Sunflowers Actual Data
G2 4
B1 3 Total number of Sunflowers __228____

(count by hand)
H5 2
F6 2 Average number of Sunflowers

(divide total by 10) Per grid __2.28___
E10 3
F5 3
J7 1
H4 2
A9 2
A1 2
Total Number of Sunflowers 26
Average per grid (divide by 10) 2.6
Total Estimated Number of 260

Plants in Meadow (multiply
average by 100)
PART 2
Analysis:
1. Compare the total number you got for sunflowers from the SAMPLING to the ACTUAL count.
How close are they?
Sampling: 260
Actual amount: 228
They are very close to each other. The sampling was kind of accurate.
2. Why was the paper-slip method used to select the grid segments?
It was used to randomly pick the grids in the field.
3 A lazy ecologist collects data from the same field, but he stops just on the side of the road and
just counts the 10 segments near the road. These 10 segments are located at J 1-10. When he
submits his report, how many sunflowers will he estimate are in the field?
He would expect 70 flowers in the whole field.
Suggest a reason why his estimation differs from your estimation.
It happens because the way he picked the grids for counting the flowers was not random.
4. Population Sampling is usually more effective when the population has an even dispersion
pattern. Clumped dispersion patterns are the least effective. Explain why this would be the case.
Clumped dispersion is the least effective because even if you randomly collect your data, there is
a high chance that the area of collection of your samples would not be accurate with the average
per area. This would end in wrong total results.
5. Describe how you would use Sampling to determine the population of dandelions in your yard.
I would divide my yard in grids that measure the same and I would randomly collect data from
some grids after. Then I would do the mathematical process and draw my conclusion as well the
results.
6. In a forest that measures 5 miles by 5 miles, a sample was taken to

count the number of silver maple trees in the forest. The number of trees
counted in the grid is shown below. The grids where the survey was taken
were chosen randomly. Determine how many silver maple trees are in this
forest using the random sampling technique. Show your work!
1. I name each grid.

2. I make paper slips for the vertical line of grids as well as for the
horizontal line of grids.
3. I divide the horizontal and vertical lines between two piles.
4. I pick 1 paper slip from one pile and 1 from the other 5 times. I
annotate the number of maple trees for every combination picked.
5. I divide the total of maple trees taken from the random
combinations by the times I picked a combination.
6. I multiply the results for 25 (total number of grids)
7. I get the results.
Total number of maple trees: 14

Average per grid: 2.8
Total estimated on the whole forest: 70
Actual average per grid: 1.4

Actual total on the whole forest: 35

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Name(s)___Rocco Racioppi_and Daniel __________________________

B1 3 Total number of Sunflowers 228__

F6 2 Average number of Sunflowers

Total Number of Sunflowers 26

Average per grid (divide by 10) 2.6

Total Estimated Number of 260

It was used to randomly pick the grids in the field.

He would expect 70 flowers in the whole field.

Suggest a reason why his estimation differs from your estimation.

6. In a forest that measures 5 miles by 5 miles, a sample was taken to

1. I name each grid.

Total number of maple trees: 14

Actual average per grid: 1.4

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