child is slowly taken

[zfreelance]

Okay, guys. I have dealt with a lot of bullshit over the course of my online Bio class, but this really was the last straw. And it seems I am all kinds of a smartass on meds.

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Look at the population in the picture below. If you were to sketch an imaginary line on the picture where the area covered by birds-in-flight was roughly divided into six squares an estimate, per area, could be accomplished.



13. To make a population estimate, count the number of birds-in-flight in one square and multiply the total by six.


____18_______ X 6 = ____108_________ (total population)


14. How close did you come to the actual population? Count every bird in the photograph to find out.

Exact count of the population = Wow, you actually wanted me to count all of that? I think I would go blind before I could figure out exactly how many birds are occupying the same space in that photograph. Two-dimensional images do not an accurate count, make. Although, given how the forgiving the margin of error seems to be, I think you’re just messing with us. I suppose there is no getting over the factor of human error, though, so the large amount of give makes sense. And yes, I understand the nature of this exercise. Populations are subject to random environmental factors, but there is a semi-predicable curve to be found within it all, just by the nature of statistics. It’s kind of cool that life, as we know it, in all its complexity and inexplicable variation, can be predicted by simple mathematics. (Or not-so-simple mathematics, if you struggle with analytical thinking.) By implementing spatial constants, you can make sense of what would otherwise resemble chaos. In essence, science. Rock on, science.
But still. Count each and every bird? I’d rather kill them mount them on the hood of my truck and let Fish and Wildlife do the counting, right before they put me away for single-handedly decimating the waterfowl population of this particular image.

15. Check one of the following to rate your estimating accuracy.

Within 5 birds of the actual count total: Accuracy 100%
Within 25 birds of the actual count total: Accuracy 90%
Within 50 birds of the actual count total: Accuracy 80%
Within 70 birds of the actual count total: Accuracy 70%
Within 100 birds of the actual count total: Accuracy 60%
*According to Heisenburg: Accuracy 0%
*According to Schrödinger: Accuracy Infinite

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I definitely submitted this as my real answer, and I regret nothing.

* my contribution to the choice list

Comments

[nrrrdy-grrrl.livejournal.com]

I feel ya.