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CalculatingQuestionsonACTScience:InterpolatingandExtrapolatingFromData

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Calculating Questions on ACT Science:

Interpolating and Extrapolating From
Data

Posted by Dora Seigel | Jun 18, 2015 8:30:00 AM

2

ACT SCIENCE

In these questions, math meets science. You might be thinking, Wait, but the ACT
Science section doesnt let you use your calculator!This is true! And this means the ACT
Science questions that require calculations will only require very simple math that you
can do by hand or in your head.
Calculation questions require you to nd a specic value based on the gures provided.
However, the value will not be shown in the gure.Using the information you are given,
you will need to predict what would happen past the edges of the graph or between
values on a table.In this article, I'm going to cover interpolations and
extrapolations, along with tips and realistic ACT Science practice questions.

Interpolations

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Interpolations
The word itself seems complicated, but it simply means calculations of numbers
between known data points (which are provided in the visuals).Lets check out this ACT
Science practice question:

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Start by trying to locate the relevant data (aka the data mentioned in the question, the
average change in AGTB at 75 m from the nearest clearing) in this scatterplot:

After examining the scatterplot, I see there are points marked at 70 and 80 m from the
center of the plot to the nearest clearing, but not at 75 m, this gap in data is what makes
this an interpolation question! You have the data that surround the point, but you need
to gure out what the point is.
What mathematical calculation could you do (using the data you do have) to nd the
approximate average change in AGTB at 75 m from the center of the plot to the nearest
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clearing?Perhaps, averaging the average change in AGTB for 70 m and 80 m from the
center of the plot to the nearest clearing?At 70m from the center of the plot to the
nearest clearing, the average change in AGTB is about -3.1.At 80m from the center of
the plot to the nearest clearing, the average change in AGTB is -2.2.
Now, calculate using the average formula:
Sum of the values / (divided by) the number of values:
((-2.2) + (-3.1)) / 2
= -5.2 / 2
= -2.6
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Then, compare it to the answer choices: so, the answer is G.

ACT Science Tip #1: even if you were a little o in your data grabbing (lets say you said
at 80m from the center of the plot to the nearest clearing, the average change in AGTB
was -2.1), you see the answer choices are widespread enough that you will get the
answer choice right by just picking the answer closest to the average you found in your
calculations.
ACT Science Tip #2: There is an alternate method to solve these questions when the
answer choices are widespread (as they are in the question above). You can simply draw
a line connecting the dots in the scatterplot, and then, you approximate the point at 75
m from the center of the plot to the nearest clearing. See my example below:

Using this method, you can approximate the average change in AGTB at -2.8. This is
closest to answer G, so that is the correct answer. Through this method, you nd the
answer a lot quicker.
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However, as I said before, this will only work for widespread answers. If -2.9 had been an
answer, this method would not have been very eective, as you may have chosen
incorrectly. So only use this method if the answer choices are widespread. Otherwise,
stick to theprocess that will always work to answer these questions:
Find the relevant data (two data pointsequidistant from the point in question)
Average the data together to nd the approximate value for the midpoint.
Find the closest (or hopefully matching) answer
This process gets a little trickierin extrapolations, in which we'll calculate data that is
beyond the bounds of what we're given.
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Extrapolations

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In order to show how extrapolation works, we are going to work through an ACT Science
practice question:

Using this table to answer the question:

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This extrapolation, like all extrapolations, requires identifying a pattern in the data and
predicting the next step in that pattern (in whichever direction the question's data
lies).These patterns will always be relatively simple, so the steps we take are also
relatively simple:
Steps for every extrapolation question
Pinpoint what we're guring out: is it a value more or less than what we are given?
Identify the relationship between 2 consecutive data points in the table or graph (it
doesn't matter which points we use, as long as they are consecutive)
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Find the relationship between the data in the question and the data in the table
Apply the pattern in the table to the new data point
Lets follow these steps to solve the ACT Science practice question above:We're guring
out the density that would match 67.54 g of solution in the graduated cylinder according
to the table.The relationship between 60.63 g of solution (the second to last entry in the
table) and 64.64 g (the last entry in the table) is +4.01 g of mass and +0.08 g/ml of
density.
The 67.54 g of solution (from the question) is above the highest step 64.64 g in the table.
Figure out the exact mass dierence between the two:
67.54-64.64 = 2.9

2.9 g is the mass dierence as opposed to 4.01 g between the last and second to last
entry.Between the second to last entry and last entry there was a +0.08 g/ml change in
density.Since there is a slightly smaller mass change (about the amount of change
between the last and second to last entry), the density change will be slightly smaller
(about the amount of change between the last and second to last entry). So, the
change should be about +0.06 g/ml.Add that to the last density value in the table (1.29).
1.29 + 0.06 = 1.35 g/ml

So, the answer is H.Again, even if you were slightly o, you would have been closest to
that answer choice.
If you feel unsure of this process, you're about to get some more practice in
extrapolating information. Check out this ACT Science practice question:
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Again, we follow the same steps:We need to use the table above.The highest given
capacitance is 1.2 x 10^-6, and we are asked about 1.5 x 10^-6.The time for 1.2x 10^-6
was 8.3 seconds.The second highest given capacitance was 0.6 x 10^-6, and the time for
it was 4.2 seconds.The dierence in time between 1.2 and 0.6 (the second highest given
capacitance) is 8.3 - 4.2 seconds.So the dierence is +4.1 seconds.

Recap
I hope you feel like a calculating machine!For every interpolation question,
Find the relevant data (two data pointsequidistant from the point in question).
Average the data together to nd the approximate value for the midpoint.
Find the closest (or hopefully matching) answer.
For every extrapolation question,
Pinpoint what we're guring out, is it a value more or less than what we are given?
Identify the relationship between 2 consecutive data points in the table or graph.
How much does the y-valueincrease or decrease as the x-value increases?
Find the relationship between the data in the question and the data in the table.
For example, is the data in the question 5 more or less than the data in the table?
Apply the pattern in the table to the new data point.
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Findthe closest (or hopefully matching) answer.

Whats Next?
Now that you're a calculating machine learn about the other types of questions on the
ACT Science section such asfactual questions,interpreting trends questions,
experimental design questions, and interpreting experiments questions.
In a hurry to study for the ACT? Learnhow to cram.

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gure out what should be your target ACT score.

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Reem al-khal 10/23/2015, 3:47:16 AM

What's the answer for the last example?
ReplytoReemalkhal

Lauren Fields 11/3/2015, 11:24:13 PM

Hi Reem!
The answer is C. 10.5 seconds. Since there was +4.1 second time dierence when
the capacitance changed from 0.6 to 1.2 (or a change of +0.6). If you change the
capacitance from 1.2 to 1.5 (or a change of +0.3, which is half the change from 0.6 to
1.2), you'd predict there'd also be about half the change in time, 4.1 / 2 = 2.05. The
time was 8.3 for 1.2 capacitance, so I'd estimate the time for 1.5 capacitance would
be 8.3+2.05 = 10.35 (and C is the closest answer).

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Hope that helps!

Lauren
ReplytoLaurenFields

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