Extended Problem #2: How long DOES poor Frank have?
Based on lab tests, Frank has 80 meningococci per mL of blood at 9am. Assuming he got infected by a single cell at 5pm, then
- What is the doubling rate of the meningococci cells?
- How long does Frank have before he reaches the LD50?
doubling rate?
(To make this problem interactive, turn on javascript!)
- I need a hint ... :
80 / mL * 5000 mLs = 400,000 cells - ...another hint ... :
1*2^19 = about 524,000, so just under 19 doublings - I need a hint ... :
5pm to 9am = 16 hours = 960 min - I need a hint ... :
960 minutes / 19 doublings = about 51 minutes/doubling
I think I have the answer: about 51 minutes
how long does he have?
(To make this problem interactive, turn on javascript!)
- I need a hint ... :
400K --> 800K --> 1.6 million --> 3.2 million - ...another hint ... :
less than 3 doublings - ...another hint ... :
3*51 = 153 minutes
I think I have the answer: about 2.5 hours
If you want a printer-friendly version of this module, you can find it here in a Microsoft Word document. This printer-friendly version should be used only to review, as it does not contain any of the interactive material, and only a skeletal version of problems solved in the module.
Copyright University of Maryland, 2007
You may link to this site for educational purposes.
Please do not copy without permission
requests/questions/feedback email: mathbench@umd.edu