There’s a math emergency at the Ecosystem Rescue Base!
We need your help!
Answer the questions to prepare to use math in the rescue mission.
The jet has an extremely large fuel tank that enables it to stay in the
air for up to 14 hours without refueling.
Sorry, you didn't answer correctly. The tank is currently at 65% capacity and the
jet IS able to make the flight. Let's move on to the weight check!
We're sending teams all over the world. Before we take off, choose the ecosystem you would like to help rescue.
Arctic CircleAtlantic OceanBefore we take flight, you will need to make sure that the jet is not too heavy to fly.
The plane must weigh less than 256,520 pounds to safely carry the team.
If the fuel weighs 97,641.23 pounds, the plane weighs 143,279.567 pounds, and the cargo weighs
15,588.9506 pounds, what is the aircraft's TOTAL weight to the nearest hundredth pounds?
pounds
The plane must weigh less than 256,520 pounds to safely carry the team.
Will the jet be able to safely fly at its current weight?
You miscalculated so we have to make an emergency landing at a closer destination.
GOShow what you learned and review the skills you used to restore balance to ecosystems.
GOWe have to move fast, so there's no time to completely fill the jet's fuel tank. However, the tank
must be AT LEAST 60% full to make it to the first destination.
If the fuel tank's capacity is 520 gallons and it currently holds 338 gallons,
what percentage of fuel is in the tank? Slide the arrow to answer.
The tank must be AT LEAST 60% full to make it to the first destination.
Will the jet be able to make it to the first destination?
Along with lobsters, blue crabs are one of the most popular dishes in the region, but they
have been displaced. We need to bring crabs back to the Atlantic Ocean, but we must be sure they
are in the right balance to the lobsters in the ecosystem.
The equation below represents the required balance of blue crabs and Maine lobsters:
In the equation, c represents the number of crabs. One rescue team member believes that
8,131 crabs are needed to reestablish balance. Which choice below BEST represents the error
in their thinking and math calculation?
You correctly identified the error. Nicely done! 1,887 crabs were reintroduced to the ecosystem to restore
balance. Now let’s continue across the Atlantic to the coast of Nova Scotia, where another animal needs our help!
Sorry, that's not the right response. The correct answer is C—your team member
made an error by using addition. You can isolate the variable c by using subtraction on both
sides of the equation to reveal that 1,887 crabs are needed to restore balance to the ecosystem.
The vegetation the gazelles usually eat has become wildly overgrown. To control the
plants and bring the ecosystem back in balance, the gazelles must be returned.
The following equation represents the gazelles needed to regain balance in the ecosystem,
where g represents the number of gazelles:
Using this equation, the rescue team decided that 255 gazelles are required to reestablish balance. Which choice
below BEST represents the error in their thinking and math calculation?
You correctly identified the error and restored balance with 16 gazelles! Now pack up your gear—another animal in the Gobi Desert needs our help!
Sorry, that's not the right response. B is the correct answer. By using division on
both sides of the equation, you can isolate the variable g to reveal that 16 gazelles would
restore balance to the ecosystem.
Now pack up your gear—another animal in the Gobi Desert needs our help!
Emperor penguins and macaroni penguins both live in the Antarctic
ecosystem. When the mysterious storm hit the area, it upset the delicate equilibrium
between the two marine birds.
The equation below represents the ideal balance between emperor penguins and macaroni penguins in
Antarctica, where e represents the number of emperor penguins that must be brought back:
Your teammate believes that 16,457 emperor penguins are needed to reestablish balance.
Which choice below BEST represents their math error?
You correctly identified the error and restored ecosystem balance with 6,379 emperor penguins! Now let’s keep going—the team found another creature in Antarctica that needs our help!
Sorry, choice C is the correct answer. By using subtraction on both
sides of the equation, you can isolate the variable e to reveal that it will take
6,379 emperor penguins to re-establish balance to the ecosystem.
Now let’s keep going—the team found another creature in Antarctica that needs our help!
The rescue team saved a large number of frogs. However, due to the number
of predators that eat them, the glass frogs will need a protected area to live
in once they are reintroduced to the rainforest.
Wildlife conservationists on your team have constructed a trapezoidal sanctuary for
amphibians that they believe is large enough to support 94 frogs.
Each frog needs 12 square feet of land to avoid overcrowding.
Review the model above.
Which choice BEST represents the error in the conservationist's thinking and calculation?
The sanctuary has an area of 882 square feet and can hold 73 frogs safely. Now we can help more creatures in the rainforest!
Sorry, that is not the correct explanation. C is the correct answer. The conservationist
decomposed the shape into a rectangle and two triangles, but forgot to do the last step of
the formula for the area of a triangle. Remember, a triangle has half the area of a rectangle.
The sanctuary has an area of 882 square feet and can hold 73 frogs safely.
Now let’s go help more creatures in the rainforest!
The rescue team brought a special machine to remove excess algae so that animal
species can safely return to the ecosystem.
Sorry, that is not the right answer. B is the correct answer. The
manufacturer used the length of the hypotenuse instead of the base in
the triangle area formula. The correct total area is 140 square meters.
Now let’s continue through the Gulf of Mexico to the coast of Louisiana, where another creature needs our help!
The manufacturer's guide states that the algae extractor's nozzle head can cover 168 square meters
of the ocean surface at once to remove unwanted algae.
Review the nozzle head’s dimensions in the model above. Did the manufacturer
make an error in calculating its area?
The nozzle can extract 140 square meters of algae at once. Now let’s continue through the Gulf of Mexico to the northern coast of Cuba, where another creature needs our help!
Now let's set up a preserve where they can find food and regain their
strength. To determine how many musk oxen can safely be resettled on the preserve,
you must calculate the area of the land.
Now we’re receiving reports of another animal that needs our help in the Arctic. Let’s go!
GODesignate a preserve on the pack ice for the rescued seals to haul-out—come out of the frigid arctic
waters to rest, molt, and care for their newborn pups. First, calculate the area of the ice.
167 ribbon seals can haul-out on the ice. You have saved the ribbon seals!
Which ecosystem should we help next?
The rescued Arctic terns need a protected area along the rocky coast to nest and forage.
NEXTYou have helped the Arctic terns flourish along the coast!
Which ecosystem should we help next?
Use a combination of the pieces provided below and show ONE way that the ice could be decomposed (broken
up) to find its area. Drag and drop the shapes onto the drawing above.
What is the area of the ice?
square kilometers
Each ribbon seal needs 0.31 square kilometers of ice. Given that the preserve is 52 square kilometers, how many
individual seals will have enough room to haul-out?
ribbon seals
Use a combination of the pieces provided below and show ONE way that the coastal preserve could be
decomposed (broken up) to find its area. Drag and drop the shapes onto the drawing above.
What is the area of the preserve?
square meters
Each pair of Arctic terns needs 0.4 square meters of coast to build a scrape—a ground nest with stones, shells and
vegetation. Given that the coastal preserve is 124 square meters, how many scrapes can be constructed?
scrapes
Sorry, that is incorrect.
The ice is 52 square kilometers. Now let's calculate how many ribbon seals can haul-out on the ice.
Nice effort, but that is incorrect.
167 ribbon seals can haul-out on the ice.
52/0.31 square kilometers = 167.74 seals, but 0.74 isn't a complete seal, so the answer can't be rounded up.
Which ecosystem should we help next?
Sorry, that is incorrect.
The preserve is 124 square meters. Now let's calculate how many nests can be built there.
Nice effort, but that is incorrect.
310 scrapes can be built on the coastal preserve, because 124 meters of preserve
divided by 0.4 square meters per Arctic tern equals 310.
Which ecosystem should we help next?
Use a combination of the pieces provided below and show ONE way that the land could be decomposed
(broken up) to find its area. Drag and drop the shapes onto the drawing above.
What is the area of the pasture?
square meters
Each ox needs 6 square meters of land. Given that the preserve is 176 square meters,
how many oxen can safely be returned to the pasture?
oxen
Sorry, that is incorrect. The pasture is 176 square meters. Now let's
calculate how many oxen we can move into the preserve.
That's not the right calculation. 29 oxen can be safely returned. Now we’re receiving reports of another animal that needs our help in the Arctic. Let’s go!
GOThis marks the end of your rescue mission. Whether you feel very confident or not so confident,
practicing will help you improve your skills. Keep practicing to find victory with math.
The rescued colossal squid needs to be returned to the bathypelagic zone of the ocean, also
known as the midnight zone.
Colossal squid thrive in the midnight zone of the ocean, where it is entirely dark. The midnight zone is located
between 3,300–13,100 meters below sea level. The rescue team has two sonar readings for possible release
sites for the squid where d = depth (meters below sea level):
One teammate believes that Site B is best because 6,348 m falls in the middle of the midnight zone, whereas
Site A is much too deep for this species to thrive. Which choice below BEST represents their math error?
You correctly identified the error! Nicely done! Now the team can isolate the variables in each of the
sonar readings to discover that Site A hit the midnight zone with a depth of 3,675 meters, whereas
Site B was too shallow at a depth of 3,174 meters.
Sorry, choice B is the correct answer. The team member incorrectly used the number after the equals
sign as the ocean depth, instead of isolating the variable d, which represents the depth. Now the team
can isolate the variables in each of the sonar readings to discover that Site A fell within the midnight
zone with a depth of 3,675 meters and Site B was too shallow at a depth of 3,174 meters.
An elephant seal weighing more than 4,000 pounds was discovered miles inland and needs to
be returned to the sea. The team plans to hoist the seal into the rescue vessel with the help of
counterweights and a large sling.
The elephant seal weighs 4,360 lbs. The counterweights used to hoist it are 50 pounds each. In the equation
below, w represents the number of counterweights the team will need to use to lift the seal. To work properly,
the counterweights must weigh at least as much as the seal.
Your teammate believes that 87 counterweights are needed to lift the seal.
Which choice below BEST represents their math error?
You correctly identified the error! Nicely done! The team member should have rounded their answer of
87.2 counterweights up to 88 instead of down to 87. Since the seal is heavier than 87 counterweights, an extra
counterweight is needed to hoist it.
Sorry, choice B is the correct answer. The team member should have rounded their
answer of 87.5 lbs up instead of down. Since the seal is heavier than 87 counterweights,
an extra counterweight is needed to hoist it.
Food and water in the Gobi desert is scarce. Help the team find a suitable site to
relocate the rescued Gobi bears—one that’s lush with wild rhubarb.
Using the following equations, the rescue team determined Site A is the best spot for the rescued
bears because it has a rhubarb plant density of 0.67 per square meter, which is higher than 0.63,
the density at Site B. d represents rhubarb density in each of the equations.
Which choice below BEST represents the error in their thinking and math calculation?
You correctly identified the error. Nicely done! The Gobi bears will be returned to
Site B instead of A because B has a higher density of rhubarb plants.
There are 1.6 plants/m2 at Site B vs. 1.5 plants/m2 at Site A.
Sorry, that's not the right response. D is the correct answer. The rescue team was dividing
square meters by the number of plants, instead of plants by square meters. Not to worry!
The Gobi bears will be returned to Site B instead of A because B has a higher density of
rhubarb plants. There are 1.6 plants/m2 at Site B vs. 1.5 plants/m2 at Site A.
The Gobi desert has one of the harshest climates on planet Earth. Can the rescued jerboas
burrow and begin their hibernation before the whipping winds of winter arrive?
A rescue team member wrote the following equation to figure out how many contingency days could be added to the plan. Based on this equation, there is concern that the jerboas cannot be safely returned to the desert.
Which choice below BEST represents the error in their thinking and math calculation?
You correctly identified the error. Nicely done! The jerboas were returned safely to the desert with 3
extra days in the plan just in case.
Sorry, that's not the right response. A is the correct answer. The team member made an error in
their thinking when they wrote the equation. Contingency plan days (x) could have either been added
together with travel, acclimation and burrowing days on the right side of the equation, or subtracted
from days before winter on the left.
Not to worry! The jerboas were returned safely to the desert with 3 extra days in the plan just in case.
The team has identified a riverside site to rehome the rescued capybaras. The river is lush with
sedges, switchgrass, and crowngrass—favorite foods of the capybara!
Wildlife conservationists have calculated that the rescued capybara and its pups will need at least 2,000
square meters of water habitat to sustain their diets of mostly aquatic plants. A team member has
calculated that the proposed site is 1,859 m2 and therefore falls short of the requirement.
Review the proposed site above. Which choice BEST represents the error in the conservationist’s
thinking and calculation?
You correctly identified the error. The river has a true area of 2,028 m2, enough to sustain the
capybara and its pups!
Sorry, that's not the right response. B is the correct answer. The team member accidentally decomposed the left side of
the river into a smaller shape and calculated using 39 m as the width instead of 52 m. Thankfully,
the river has an area of 2,028 m2, enough to sustain the capybara and its pups!
The team has identified a rainforest preserve for the rescued pygmy marmosets. The dense
understory (the trees and shrubs between the forest canopy and the forest floor) provides lots of
protection and great places for the monkeys to hide from predators.
The pygmy marmosets need a minimum of 800 m2 of space to survive in the preserve. In a rush to get
the rescued marmosets resettled, a team member calculated that the understory preserve provides a
spacious 3,888 m2 of area for the monkeys.
Review the model above. Which choice BEST represents the error in the team member’s
thinking and calculation?
You correctly identified the error. The rescued pygmy marmosets will have 1,944 m2 of dense
understory to hide in, which is still a healthy amount of space!
Sorry, that's not the right response. C is the correct answer. The team member accidentally calculated the area
of the preserve using 54 m as its width rather than 27 m. Not to worry! The rescued pygmy
marmosets will have 1,944 m2 of dense understory to hide in—still a healthy amount of space!
Confirm the amount of crustaceans and mollusks needed to sustain the diets of rescued loggerheads
before their release into the ocean.
The six rescued loggerhead turtles require 11.6 pounds of mussels, 5.3 pounds of horseshoe crabs,
and 1.7 pounds of sea snails to sustain their daily diet. Using the below equation, scientists
determined each turtle will need 12.6 lbs of food per day.
Which choice below BEST represents the error in their thinking and math calculation?
Good news: The team has determined that the ecosystem can support the daily requirement of 3.1 pounds of
food for each of the rescued loggerheads!
Which ecosystem should we help next?
Sorry, that's not the right response. A is the correct answer. After simplifying the equation to 6f
= 18.6, the team member tried to isolate the variable by subtracting 6 from both sides of the equation.
However, since 6f means 6 multiplied by f, the inverse operation of division should be used. Dividing
18.6 by 6, the team discovered that each loggerhead requires 3.1 lbs of food per day.
Which ecosystem should we help next?
Relocating the rescued harbour porpoises to the Bay of Fundy puts them in direct competition for
food with grey and harbour seals. The overlap in their diets includes sand eels, cod, and herring.
The team has determined that the ecosystem can support a total of 4,152 porpoises, grey seals and harbor seals, based on available fish stocks. If there are 3,117 grey seals and 622 harbor seals already in the bay, p in the equation below represents the total number of porpoises the ecosystem can support.
A rescue team member believes 1,035 porpoises can be returned to the ecosystem. Which choice below BEST
represents the error in their thinking and math calculation?
413 harbour porpoises were reintroduced to the bay.
Which ecosystem should we help next?
Sorry, that's not the right response. D is the correct answer. By simplifying then using
subtraction on both sides of the equation we can isolate p and discover that 413 harbour
porpoises can be relocated to the bay.
Which ecosystem should we help next?
The rescued saltmarsh snakes need to be returned to the coastal wetland, but where?
NEXTThe snakes need a combined habitat of at least 1,720 square meters of mangrove
and 550 square meters of open water.
A team member has determined that Site B is too small to be an option for relocating the rescued saltmarsh
snakes. Which choice below BEST represents the error in their thinking and math calculation?
You correctly identified the error. Nicely done! Site A and B both have 1,728 m2 of mangrove and 576 m2 of
open water. Both sites are suitable for the saltmarsh snakes!
Sorry, that's not the right response. C is the correct answer. Site A and B both have 1,728 m2
of mangrove and 576 m2 of open water. Both sites are suitable for the saltmarsh snakes!
Water temperatures off the coast have dropped unexpectedly, impacting the
rescue plans for the flying fish.
The rescued species of flying fish can’t tolerate water temperatures below 68 °F so the rescue team is working
to calculate how much of the 45 km2 marine reserve is still hospitable (warm enough) for the fish.
After calculating, a rescue team member is relieved to find that the fish will still have an area of 17.5 km2 in
which to swim and soar! Which choice below BEST represents the error in their thinking and math calculation?
You correctly identified the error. Nicely done! The flying fish have 27.5 km2—plenty of room to
swim and soar!
Sorry, that's not the right response. A is the correct answer. The team member
accidentally calculated the area of the reserve that is too cold for the fish. The flying fish have 27.5 km2 of water that’s warm enough—plenty of room to swim and soar!