document.write( "Question 150694: Hello E-Instructors :)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Would someone kindly show me how to solve this problem correctly? \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Problem: The level of a prescription drug in the human body over time can be found using the formula:
\n" ); document.write( "L= ___D___
\n" ); document.write( "''''''''1-(1/2)^n/H \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "where D is the amount taken every 'n' hours and H is the drug's half-life in hours.
\n" ); document.write( "(''''These marks are merely spacers and not intended to be part of the equation).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "1. If 2.5 milligrams of Lorazepam with a half-life of 14 hours is taken
\n" ); document.write( " every 24 hours, then to what level does the drug build up over time?\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " So far I think that the formula may look like this:
\n" ); document.write( "2.5 = ___24________
\n" ); document.write( "'''''''''''''1-(1/2)^24/14\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Then maybe this:
\n" ); document.write( "2.5 = ___24____
\n" ); document.write( "'''''''''''''0.3047534\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2.5 = 69.057991 \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Then, I don't know what to do next or if what I've done is even close to being right. :P\r
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\n" ); document.write( "2. If a doctor wants the level of Lorazepam to build up to a level
\n" ); document.write( " of 5.58 milligrams in a patient taking 2.5 milligram doses, then how
\n" ); document.write( " often should the doses be taken?\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " I'm completely in the dark about this one.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3. What is the difference between taking 2.5 milligram of Lorazepam
\n" ); document.write( " every 12 hours and taking 5 milligrams every 24 hours? \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " This one, I might subtract results from these two equations:
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\n" ); document.write( "2.5 = ___12_________
\n" ); document.write( "''''''''''''1-(1/2)^12/14
\n" ); document.write( "from
\n" ); document.write( "5 = ___24_______
\n" ); document.write( "''''''''''1-(1/2)^24/14
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\n" ); document.write( " Well, that would be after I have learned how to solve the first question
\n" ); document.write( " correctly. ;)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thank you so much for sharing your valuable knowledge with a mathematically challenged damsel like myself.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Grateful,
\n" ); document.write( "J. ;)
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Algebra.Com's Answer #110636 by edjones(8007)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
1)
\n" ); document.write( "\"L=%28D%2F%281-%28%281%2F2%29%5E%28n%2FH%29%29%29%29\" I assume that this is the formula.
\n" ); document.write( "\"L=%282.5%2F%281-%28%281%2F2%29%5E%2824%2F14%29%29%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"L=%282.5%2F%281-.304753%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"L=2.5%2F.695247\"
\n" ); document.write( "L=3.59585 mg
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\n" ); document.write( "\"L=%28D%2F%281-%28%281%2F2%29%5E%28n%2FH%29%29%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"5.58=%282.5%2F%281-%28%281%2F2%29%5E%28n%2F14%29%29%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "Let x=1-((1/2)^(n/14))
\n" ); document.write( "5.58=2.5/x
\n" ); document.write( "x=2.5/5.58
\n" ); document.write( "x=.448029
\n" ); document.write( "Let y=(1/2)^(n/14)
\n" ); document.write( "1-y=.448029
\n" ); document.write( "-y=.448029-1
\n" ); document.write( "y=1-.448029
\n" ); document.write( "y=.551971
\n" ); document.write( "Let z=n/14
\n" ); document.write( ".5^z=.551971
\n" ); document.write( "log[.5](.5^z)=log[.5](.551971)
\n" ); document.write( "z=log[.5](.551971)
\n" ); document.write( "log[.5](.551971)=log[10](.551971)/log[10](.5)=.857336
\n" ); document.write( "n/14=.857336
\n" ); document.write( "n=14*.857336
\n" ); document.write( "=12.0027 hrs
\n" ); document.write( "So 2.5 mg must be given every 12 hrs.
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\n" ); document.write( "3)
\n" ); document.write( "\"L=%285%2F%281-%28%281%2F2%29%5E%2812%2F14%29%29%29%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "L=11.1618 mg
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\n" ); document.write( "Ed\r
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