Discussion:

Leaves have different sizes and shapes. Typically leaves are broad, flat and thin, thereby
maximizing the surface area directly exposed to light and enabling the light to penetrate the
tissues and reach the chloroplasts, thus promoting photosynthesis. They are arranged on the
plant so as to expose their surfaces to light as efficiently as possible without shading each other,
but there are many exceptions and complications (Brian et al.,1975).

This experiment was done to study the relationship between length and width of the
leaves. This experiment also was carry out to determine and applying the basic concept of
statistic and variation in population. 30pieces of leaves of random length and width was divided
into a set of tens and later measured its length, width and weight. The data was collected and a
graph of length versus width was plotted. The statistical value such as mean, variance and
standard deviation was also calculated.
The graph has been plotted shown that the width of leaves increase directly proportional with
its length. Although the data shown that the line was not completely accurate, the distribution
of the data shows it scatters into a form of linear increase. So, the length and width can be
conclude as dependence, where the longer the length of the leaves, the wider the width of the
leaves. The statistical values of the experiment where mean, variance and standard deviation
also play a vital part in proposing this conclusion. Mean can be defined as the sum of all the
value divided with the number of the value. Mean can be used as the central tendency to observe
the data distribution. Meanwhile, variance is used to measure how far the data spread out from
the mean value. The smaller the variance value, the smaller it spread out from the mean value.
Based on the calculation, the variance from the experiment has a small value, showing that our
data doesn’t spread away too much from its mean. The data distribute nicely along the linear
line, showing the dependence of the two variables. The same case applies to the standard
deviation. Standard deviation also measure how much the data distribute from the mean value.
The smaller the value of the standard deviation, the smaller the value of data spread from the
mean. Based on the evidence above, we can conclude that the higher the length, the higher the
width. The variables depend on each other.
There are not many possible errors that could happen during this experiment because
the procedure was quite simple and straight forward. However, it is not an excuse not be careful
during conducting this experiment. The first possible error that might occur is during the
recording the data. Every set of leaves are from the same species, based on similar appearance,
therefore confusion while taking the measurement could happen. The correct way to avoid the
error is by measuring one leaf at a time, taking both its length and width first before proceeding
to the next one. Labelling the leaf’s number also will help avoiding the error. The next possible
error also might happen during the process of recording the data. It must determine the correct
point to start taking measurement for length and width. If the point was not determined properly
before taking the measurement, the data might not be correct and uniform. All possible error
must be eliminated to get an accurate and consistent result.

There are difference in the mean length and mean width in the different sets of the
leaves. However, there is no drastic difference in those sets. The difference is maybe because
the leaves are not in the same species between each set. Next, it maybe because of the age of
the individual leaves. The size of the leaf grows with its age. Therefore, the younger the leaf,
the smaller its size. The leaves are divided into 3 sets of tens. However, it was arranged into a
similar species and similar size, causing the mean value was not differ much from the individual
value. Optimal leaf size and shape depend upon a leaf’s environment, especially physical
factors such as light levels, heat dissipation, and water availability, conductance, and loss.
Biological interactions such as competition with other plants, herbivore, pollination, and seed
dispersal also influence optimal leaf size and shape (Ginvish,1979).

Variance is used to measure how much the data spread out from the mean value. The
statement shows that there are variation in length and width of a group of leaves (Harvey and
Miller, 1996). There is no similar individual in a population whether in appearance or size.
However, the size doesn’t differ drastically with each other as proved by the variance. The
calculated variance has a small value, showing that the length and width of the leaves didn’t
spread away too much from its mean value. This is because the smaller the value of variance,
the smaller the spread of data distribution from the mean value. Standard deviation also used
to measure the dispersion of data from its mean value. Standard deviation is easier to use in
real-life problem as it is the square root of variance thus has similar unit as the data for example
if data in cm, variance will be in cm2 while standard deviation will be same as the data, which
is cm.

It is necessary to have different set of measurement for leaves width and length because
to ensure a consistent result. It is hard to determine whether the results are correct if only one
set was used. By having different sets, we can compare our result with the other set for
consistent result. It also obeys the law of nature because there is no similar individual in a
population.

References

Brian, A., Tapper, E., Lohrey, Edwin, L., Hove, Russell, M., & Allison (1975). Photosensitivity
from chlorophyll‐derived pigments. Journal of Food Science And Technology 26(3), 277-276.

Givnish , T. J. (1979) . On the adaptive significance of leaf form. Topics in plant population
biology, 375–407.

Harvey, E., & Miller, T.(1996). Variance in composition of inquiline communities in leaves of
Sarracenia purpurea L. on multiple spatial scales. Journal of Oecologia 108(3), 562-566.