A group of paleobotanists collected samples of sediments containing po

  ­A group of paleobotanists collected samples of sediments containing pollen and spores from various plant species. Each sample was analyzed to determine the number of spores in the sample, the number of pollen grains in the sample, and the species to which those spores and pollen grains belong. Samples S1 and S2 were collected and analyzed in this way. For these two samples:

• S1 had the greater total number of spores, and it contained pollen grains from Species P as well as spores from Species Q.
• S2 had the greater total number of species represented, and all of the spores it contained were from Species Q.

Statement: Among these two samples, S1 had the greater ratio of total number of ___1___ to total number of ___2___.

Select for 1 and for 2 the options that complete the statement so that it is accurate based on the information provided. Make only two selections, one in each column.Comparison:

............S1...........................................................................S2
Higher Spores (say 100)..........................................Lower Spores (say 90)
Pollen from P............................................................. -
Spores from Q (some of the 100)...........................All spores were from Q (all 90)
Fewer Species (say 8).............................................More species (say 10)


Statement: Among these two samples, S1 had the greater ratio of total number of ___1___ to total number of ___2___

S1's ratio of Spores:Number of Species will be greater than that of S2 for sure. Why? Because it has more spores and fewer species. So numerator is greater and denominator is lower.
\(\frac{100}{8} > \frac{90}{10}\)
ANSWER: Spores : Species Represented

Will anything else work? No. How about spores:spores from Q?
For S2, that will be 90/90 = 1. For S1, it could be 1 or it could be higher. (100/100 or 100/10 etc.)

Here is a video discussing how to handle Two Part Analysis Questions.