document.write( "Question 1025723: A pharmaceutical company is developing a new drug. The level of the new drug reduces by 28% each hour after it is taken by the patient. It is recommended that one tablet is taken initially and a second tablet is taken when the level of the drug in the first tablet has reduced by half. The pharmaceutical company would like to put a recommendation on the packet about how often one tablet should be taken. Investigate the time it takes for the level of this drug to reduce by half and make a recommendation to the company about how often one tablet should be taken. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #641023 by FrankM(1040) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
28% reduction is the same as multiplying by .72 , note that 1-.28=.72\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( ".72^2 or .72*.72 = .5184 so 2 hours.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "if we waited till the 3rd hour, there would be .373 or 37% well below the 50% level. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Last, the exact way to calculate a more complex problem is \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( ".72^N=.5\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"N=%28log.5%2Flog.72%29=2.11\"$ \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So if we believe the body metabolizes to this level of accuracy, the precise answer is 2 hours 6 minutes 36 seconds. Each teacher will have their own requirements for levels of accuracy. It's absurd to see a number like 28% with 2 digits of accuracy, but then produce my answer down to the second, about 5 digits of accuracy. I offer it only to show the precise calculation. \n" ); document.write( "

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