How to translate text using browser tools
1 April 2017 Solving Hardy-Weinberg with Geometry: An Integration of Biology and Math
Laura A. Schoenle, Matthew Thomas
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Introducing Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium into the high school or college classroom can be difficult because many students struggle with the mathematical formalism of the Hardy-Weinberg equations. Despite the potential difficulties, incorporating Hardy-Weinberg into the curriculum can provide students with the opportunity to investigate a scientific theory using data and integrate across the disciplines of biology and mathematics. We present a geometric way to interpret and visualize Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, allowing students to focus on the core ideas without algebraic baggage. We also introduce interactive applets that draw on the distributive property of mathematics to allow students to experiment in real time. With the applets, students can observe the effects of changing allele frequencies on genotype frequencies in a population at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Anecdotally, we found use of the geometric interpretation led to deeper student understanding of the concepts and improved the students' ability to solve Hardy-Weinberg-related problems. Students can use the ideas and tools provided here to draw connections between the biology and mathematics, as well as between algebra and geometry.

© 2017 National Association of Biology Teachers. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press's Reprints and Permissions web page, www.ucpress.edu/journals.php?p=reprints.
Laura A. Schoenle and Matthew Thomas "Solving Hardy-Weinberg with Geometry: An Integration of Biology and Math," The American Biology Teacher 79(4), 309-312, (1 April 2017). https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2017.79.4.309
Published: 1 April 2017
JOURNAL ARTICLE
4 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
evolution
geometry
Hardy-Weinberg
manipulative
mathematics
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top