Pesticide applicators use math to determine treatment area, correctly dilute concentrated product, and calibrate equipment to deliver a desired application rate. These are all key steps in a successful pesticide application. Since most of us have not been in math class for a number of years, it may be helpful to revisit some handy math concepts and practice with them. The resources on this page were created to help you do just that!
Download: Jar Test Proportions Calculator (XLS 17 KB) New! – This calculator is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that will help you test the compatibility of tank mix partners by determining the correct proportions of pesticides to use in small-scale jar tests and showing the order in which each chemical should be added to the mixture. Learn how to use the calculator with this short walk-through video.
Math for Pesticide Applicators video
What should you practice?
The slideshow linked below can help you gauge your understanding of various concepts and focus on the ones you should study in more depth. If you can't answer a question, click on the More like this button for a help sheet with practice problems. To get back to the presentation, click the back arrow.
Math for Pesticide Applicators slides
Help sheets (with practice problems)
The help sheets linked below allow more focused learning on specific math concepts with which you might struggle.
- Using percentages
- Converting square feet to acres
- Calculating area for rectangles and squares
- Calculating area for circular fields
- Calculating area for irregular shapes
- Using cross multiplication
- Finding the amount of active ingredient in a formulated product
- Converting miles per hour to feet per second
- Determining the amount of granular product needed
- Determining the amount of liquid product needed
- Determining the amount of water and pesticide to mix
- Determining the amount of pesticide to use
- Mixing wettable powder formulations
- Mixing liquid formulations
- Using mathematical formulas