Texas A&M University (TAMU) BIOL112 Introductory Biology II Lab Exam 1 Practice Exam

Total magnification is calculated by multiplying the magnification of the ocular lens by the magnification of the objective lens. The ocular lens, which is the lens you look through, typically has a standard magnification of 10x, but other values can be used as well. The objective lens is situated closer to the specimen and has varying magnifications, such as 4x, 10x, 40x, or 100x.

When you apply this formula, you are essentially combining the magnifying power of both lenses to determine how much larger the image appears compared to its actual size. For instance, if you use a 10x ocular lens with a 40x objective lens, the total magnification would be 10 x 40 = 400x, meaning the image appears 400 times larger than it actually is.

This calculation is fundamental in microscopy, enabling precise viewing and analysis of small specimens in biological research.