In this WebQuest activity, high school mathematics student will search the Internet to find information about United States population statistics.  The mathematical focus of this activity is on finding percents.  The problem is as follows.

Suppose the United States was reduced to a population of just 1000 people.  Based on the current population statistics of the U.S., find how many men and women there would be.  How many of the people would be white, black, and other races?  How many households would there be?  How many would hold a high school diploma?  How many would be college educated?

These questions are a sample of the questions that I have developed to be covered later.  The students will be able to find their information from two websites:

The United States Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov
National Center for Health Statistics: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

On a worksheet where they will answer questions such as the ones shown above, I have give more specific information about how to go about obtaining the necessary information and how to process this information into what I am looking for.  The basic categories of research are as follows:
 

1. Population by Sex
2. Population by Race
3. Number of Births and Deaths per Year
4. Number of Households Regionally
5. Education Levels
6. Summary

1. Find the most current U.S. population of both males and females.
2. What was the U.S. population of both sexes five years ago?
3. Find the percent increase/decrease.
4. Based on the percent increase/decrease, with a population of 1000 people, how many people would there have been five years ago?
5. Find the most current U.S. population of females.
6. What was the U.S. population of females five years ago?
7. Find the percent increase/decrease.
8. Based on the percent increase/decrease, with a population of 1000 people, how many females would there have been five years ago?
9. Find the most current U.S. population of males.
10. What was the U.S. population of males five years ago?
11. Find the percent increase/decrease.
12. Based on the percent increase/decrease, with a population of 1000 people, how many males would there have been five years ago?

1. How many different categories is the race of the U.S. divided into?
2. Of the categories, list how many people are included in each category.
3. Calculate the respective percentages of the total population.
4. Based on the above percentages, with a population of 1000 people, how many people of each race would we have?

1. What is the annual mortality rate in the U.S.?
2. Based on the annual mortality rate, how many people would die this year in our town (of 1000)?
3. What is the annual birth rate in the U.S.?
4. Based on the annual birth rate, how many babies would be born this year in our town (of 1000)?
5. What are the major leading causes of death in the U.S. and what percentage of the population dies from these diseases?
6. Calculate how many people would die from these diseases in our town (of 1000).

1. What percent of people 25 and over have a high school diploma?  A Bachelor's Degree or more?
2. Answer question 1 for females and males separately.
3. Find the number of people in our "reduced" U.S. (1000) that have a high school diploma and/or B.S./B.A. degree.  Find the number of males and females with the same qualifications.

Summarize all of the information collected in an organized and creative manner.  You may (and are encouraged to) use graphs, charts, and any other forms of visual aids.  Be creative!!