#AP Human Geography: City Size and Distribution - The Night Before Review 🌃

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the exam with a super-focused review of city size and distribution. We'll make sure everything clicks, and you'll feel confident going in! Let's do this!

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Introduction to City Size and Distribution

What it is: How cities are arranged in a region or country.
Why it matters: Impacts infrastructure, economic development, and population trends.
Key factors: Geography, transportation, economy, culture, and politics.
- Example: A hypothetical country:
  - Metropolis: 10 million (center, economic/cultural/political hub)
  - City A: 5 million (coast, major port)
  - City B: 3 million (mountains, tourism)
  - City C: 2 million (agricultural region, food processing)

Key Concept

Understanding city size and distribution is crucial for planning and understanding regional dynamics.

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The Rank-Size Rule

What it is: A pattern where a city's population is inversely proportional to its rank.
In simple terms: The largest city is roughly twice the size of the second, three times the third, and so on.
- Formula: Population of nth city = (Population of largest city) / n
- Example: If the largest city has 1,000,000 people:
  - 2nd largest: 1,000,000 / 2 = 500,000
  - 3rd largest: 1,000,000 / 3 = 333,333

#How the Rank-Size Rule Works

Visual Representation:
- Largest City: 1,000,000 (1,000,000 / 1)
- 2nd Largest City: 500,000 (1,000,000 / 2)
- 3rd Largest City: 333,333 (1,000,000 / 3)
- 4th Largest City: 250,000 (1,000,000 / 4)
- 5th Largest City: 200,000 (1,000,000 / 5)
- Another Example:
  - Largest City: 200,000
  - 2nd Largest: 100,000
  - 3rd Largest: 66,666
  - 4th Largest: 50,000
  - 5th Largest: 40,000
  - 6th Largest: 33,333

Memory Aid

Think of it like a pizza: the first slice is the biggest, then they get progressively smaller as you divide the pizza into more slices.

#Problems with the Rank-Size Rule

Not always accurate:
- Based on a log-linear relationship that doesn't always hold.
- Ignores geography, infrastructure, and economic factors.
- Doesn't account for changes over time.
- Based on limited data, may not apply to all regions.
Primate Cities: Some countries have a dominant city much larger than predicted by the rule.
- Example: In the U.S., New York City is a primate city, making Philadelphia smaller than expected.

Common Mistake

Don't assume all countries follow the rank-size rule precisely. Deviations are common, especially with primate cities.

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Primate Cities

What it is: The largest city in a country or region, significantly larger and more influential than others.
Key Features: Economic, cultural, and political center with disproportionate influence.
- Example: Mexico City is a classic primate city.
  - Largest city in Mexico, cultural, financial, and political center.
  - Hub of transportation, communication, and trade.
Other Examples:
- Tokyo, Japan
- London, United Kingdom
- Mumbai, India
- Cairo, Egypt
- Shanghai, China
Regional Primate Cities: The dominant city in a region, even if not the national capital (e.g., Chicago in the Midwest).

#Advantages and Disadvantages of Primate Cities

Chart Summary:

Source: Mr Tredinnick’s AP HuG Class Website
- Advantages:
  - Economic dominance, job opportunities, economic growth.
  - Cultural influence, artistic trends.
  - Political importance, policy influence.
  - Transportation hub, ease of movement.
- Disadvantages:
  - Overcrowding, housing shortages.
  - Traffic congestion.
  - Social and economic inequality.
  - Environmental issues (pollution, waste).

Exam Tip

When discussing primate cities, remember to analyze both their positive and negative impacts on the region.

#Final Exam Focus 🎯

High-Priority Topics:
- Rank-size rule and its limitations
- Primate cities and their characteristics
- The impact of city size and distribution on development
Common Question Types:
- Multiple-choice questions testing your understanding of the rank-size rule and primate cities.
- Free-response questions asking you to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of primate cities, or to apply the rank-size rule to a given scenario.
Last-Minute Tips:
- Time Management: Quickly identify the core concept being asked in the question.
- Common Pitfalls: Don't confuse the rank-size rule with primate city concepts. They are related but distinct.
- Strategies: Use real-world examples to illustrate your points in FRQs.

Quick Fact

Primate cities often have a disproportionate share of a country's resources and population.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

According to the rank-size rule, if the largest city in a country has a population of 10 million, the population of the third-largest city is most likely to be: (A) 1 million (B) 2 million (C) 3.3 million (D) 5 million (E) 6.6 million
Which of the following best describes a primate city? (A) A city that is located near a major port (B) A city that is the political capital of a country (C) A city that is disproportionately larger and more dominant than other cities in the country (D) A city that is the center of agricultural production (E) A city that follows the rank-size rule
A country with a primate city is most likely to experience: (A) An even distribution of resources and economic activity (B) A concentration of resources and economic activity in one major city (C) A lack of transportation infrastructure (D) A decrease in population growth (E) A high level of social equality

#Free Response Question

Prompt:

Explain the concept of the rank-size rule and discuss its limitations. Then, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of primate cities, providing specific examples to support your points.

Scoring Breakdown:

Part A: Rank-Size Rule (3 points)
- 1 point: Correctly defines the rank-size rule (population is inversely proportional to rank).
- 1 point: Explains how the rule works (largest city is twice the size of the second, etc.).
- 1 point: Identifies a limitation of the rule (not always accurate, ignores factors).
Part B: Primate Cities (4 points)
- 1 point: Correctly defines a primate city (disproportionately large and influential).
- 1 point: Discusses at least two advantages of primate cities (e.g., economic dominance, cultural influence).
- 1 point: Discusses at least two disadvantages of primate cities (e.g., overcrowding, inequality).
- 1 point: Provides at least one specific example of a primate city and its impact (e.g., Mexico City, London).