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Gerrymandering

Last updated over 4 years ago
11 questions
1

What is gerrymandering?

1

Why is California District 20 "suspicious" when discussing gerrymandering?

1

What two characteristics are considered when determining a score for district for gerrymandering?

1

Consider Michigan, District 1. Even though this district not compact and it has a "noisy" perimeter, why is it unlikely that this district is gerrymandered?

Gerrymandering Scoring
Calculate the scores for district #8. You will use each of these scores to measure compactness and the noisiness of the perimeter.
Scores that measure the "compactness" of the district.
1

Convex Hull
1.) Find the area of the district using Pick's Formula: A = i + b/2 - 1
2.) Imagine a string looped around the outer perimeter of the district.
3.) Find the area enclosed within the string using Pick's Formula.
4.) Divide the area of the district by the area within the string. Please round your answer to the hundredths place.
Answers may vary, but your score should be between 0 and 1.

1

Reock Score
1.) Calculate the area of the circle that has been drawn so that it is just big enough to cover the district.
2.) Divide the area of the district(from #5) by the area of the circle
Please round to the hundredths place.
Answers may vary, but your score should be between 0 and 1.

Scores that measure the "noisiness" of the perimeter.
1

Polsby-Popper
1.) Calculate the perimeter of the district.
2.) Calculate the radius of a circle whose circumference is the same as the perimeter of the district.
3.) Calculate the area of this circle.
4.) Divide the area of the district(from #5) by the area of this circle. Please round your answer to the hundredths place.
Answers may vary, but your score should be between 0 and 1.

1

Modified Schwartzberg
1.). Calculate the radius of a circle that has the same area as the district(from #5).
2.). Calculate the circumference of this circle.
2. Divide the circumference of the circle by the perimeter of the district(from #7). Please round your answer to the hundredths place.
Answers may vary, but your score should be between 0 and 1.

1

What is the average of the four scores? Answers may vary.

1

Does this average suggest the potential for gerrymandering?(remember: a score closer to 0 is more likely and closer to 1 less likely).

1

Notice that changes in the districting in the image above. Please list one statement and one question that your may have about the changes in the district boundary lines.