Amy Morrison

BIO 165-IN1
Christophe Stevens
Task Stream Assignment
This assignment requires you to demonstrate what you have learned from previous assignments incorporating the Scientific
Method. Type in your answers and create/insert your charts and graphs in the areas provided, i.e., "Answer:".
When you have completed the assignment, save your document with "Save As" using your last name. You will then upload the
document to TaskStream. There is a link in MOODLE that takes you to the SPCC website. Here you will find links showing you
step by step instructions on "Creating an Account in TaskStream" and "Submitting an Assignment in TaskStream" so you can
create an account and upload your work. The code you need to enter into the "Enter Code" box (when you get there) is
"ProblemSolvingOnline".
Remember, this assignment is being uploaded to TaskStream.
Answer the following questions. Save this file to your computer and then submit it into TaskStream for evaluation.
1. Define the Problem: Propose a possible correlation between the ulna length and total body height.
Answer: In a typically proportioned adult arm span is a good approximation of total height. Therefore, a persons ulnar
length is approximately 1/5 the total body height of an individual.

2. Define the Problem: Write a hypothesis based on your observation using an If/then statement.
Answer: If a persons ulnar length is x meters, then their total body height would be the equivalent of 5x meters because
there is a direct correlation between ulna length and total body height.

3. Develop a Plan: Design an experiment that will test your hypothesis.
Answer: Materials:
Test Subjects Measuring tape (flexible)
Procedures: For each subject, measure the length of each persons ulna from the point of the elbow to the
lateral side of the wrist. Then measure their total height, and record data in the chart for appropriate
calculations.
4. Application: List, step by step, the procedures that you followed when performing the experiment.

Answer: Procedure:
1. Have the subject stand upright against a paper, and mark a line along the crown of the skull on the paper.
2. Measure the distance from the floor to the line for each subject.
3. Measure ulnar length from the tip of the elbow to the prominence on the lateral side wrist.
4. Record data in the table.
5. Graph data, and attempt to find a correlation using linear regression.
5. Solution: Display the data from the results of your experiment in the form of a table.
Answer:
Sex Age
Height
(in meters)
Ulna Length
(in meters)
% of Total
Body Height
F 2 0.895 0.125 14%
M 5 1.1 0.155 14%
M 21 1.82 0.356 20%
M 36 1.82 0.368 20%
F 37 1.64 0.266 16%
M 37 1.81 0.285 16%
F 52 1.52 0.317 21%
M 55 1.9 0.3 16%
M 57 1.81 0.295 16%


6. Solution: Interpret your data by discussing trends and data points relevant to your hypothesis.
Answer:
Of the twelve people measured, the ages ranged from 2 to 65. Ten of the twelve people were between 21 and 65. All
of the participants measurements were entered into excel. The points were charted and a trendline added. The trendline
equation was y = 0.2019x 0.0519, where y is the ulna length and x is the persons total body height. This trend shows that
ulnar length is relatively close to 20% of the total body height. The correlation coefficient is .7942. This statistic shows that
approximately 79.42% of the data is explained by this equation. Individual data points showed percentages ranging from 14%
in the youngest up to 21% in full grown participants.

Table 1. Linear trendline for regression of data.

7. Solution: Did these conclusions confirm or refute your original hypothesis and why?
Answer: The data supports the hypothesis: : If a persons ulnar length is x meters, then their total body height would be
the equivalent of 5x meters because there is a direct correlation between ulna length and total body height. Despite the
variation in each persons actual height to length ratio, there is sufficient reason to justify that this equation could be used to
y = 0.2019x - 0.0519
R = 0.7942
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Total Body Height
(In Meters)
Ulna Length vs. Total Body Height
(In Meters)
rationalize an individuals approximate height based on the length of their ulna. Two of the data points are representative of
children still growing. As such, their limbs may be out of proportion with their height.