Name_________________________________________________________ Date __________
Chapter
3 Performance Task
Chlorophyll in Plants
What is needed for photosynthesis? How can you use the amount of chlorophyll in
a lake to determine the level of biological productivity?
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants acquire energy from the sun. Sunlight,
carbon dioxide, and water are used by a plant to produce glucose and dioxygen.
Before: After:
6 Carbon Dioxide + 6 Water Glucose + 6 Dioxygen
1. You want to make models of the molecules
Number of Atoms
involved in photosynthesis for a science
fair project. The table shows the number Molecule Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen
of each element used for each molecule. Carbon Dioxide 1 0 2
Let x, y, and z represent the costs of a model
carbon atom, model hydrogen atom, and
Water 0 2 1
model oxygen atom. Glucose 6 12 6
a. Write and simplify an expression to find Dioxygen 0 0 2
the cost of the model atoms you use to
represent the molecules used by a plant
for photosynthesis.
b. Write and simplify an expression to find the cost of the model atoms you use
to represent the molecules produced by photosynthesis.
c. What do you notice about the expressions in part (a) and part (b)? Explain.
d. You spend $0.50 on each model carbon atom, $0.25 on each model hydrogen
atom, and $0.75 on each model oxygen atom. Write and evaluate an expression to
find the total cost of your science fair project.
Copyright © Big Ideas Learning, LLC Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life Grade 7 41
All rights reserved. Assessment Book
Name _________________________________________________________ Date _________
Chapter
3 Performance Task (continued)
Chlorophyll in Plants
2. The trophic status of a body of water uses the amount of nutrients in the water
to predict the amount of plant growth. Your science class measures the amount
of chlorophyll in a rectangular lake to determine its trophic status. The lake is
80 yards wide and has an area of 80 + 5600 square yards.
a. Write and simplify an expression that represents the perimeter (in yards)
of the lake.
b. The value of x is 90. What is the length of the lake?
c. Your teacher wants to collect 5 samples of water at the edge of the lake.
Each sample should be taken at least 20 yards apart. Is it possible to take
all of the samples along the length of the lake? Explain.
3. The table shows the amount of chlorophyll for each trophic class.
Trophic Status
Chlorophyll level Trophic Biological
(parts per billion) Class Productivity
0–2.6 Oligotrophic Low
2.6–20 Mesotrophic Intermediate
20–56 Eutrophic High
56–155 Hypereutrophic Severe
a. The chlorophyll levels from the samples taken are 5.7, 12.3, 17.1,
20.1, and 23.1 parts per billion. What trophic class is indicated by
the mean chlorophyll level?
b. Give an example of 5 sample chlorophyll levels such that the mean chlorophyll
level would classify the lake as Eutrophic.
42 Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life Grade 7 Copyright © Big Ideas Learning, LLC
Assessment Book All rights reserved.