Somewhere in your specification you will find a section called Mathematical Requirements. The introduction to this section tells you that, in order to develop your understanding and skills, you need to have acquired competence in a number of areas of mathematics. One of these is the use of ratios. So ratios are in your specification and it is quite reasonable for your examiners to expect an understanding of how they are used in biology.
There are some topics in A-level specifications that appear to create all sorts of problems for candidates. I know that, whatever way I word a question linked to one of these areas, candidates will find ways of demonstrating their misunderstandings. One of these topics is the use of ratios. Put a ratio into what should be a straightforward question and immediately there are problems. What I am going to do in this Upgrade is to attempt to take the mystery out of ratios and look at some of the ways in which they can be useful to A-level biologists. Before you read any further, look at Boxes 1 and 2. They give some background information about blackbirds and sex ratios.
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