#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!

#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)

#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

#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.

#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).

#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.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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).

Alright, you've got this! Take a deep breath, review these notes, and go ace that exam! You're well-prepared and ready to rock! 🚀