Math  /  Algebra

QuestionIn 2004, it was reported that "the relationship between body mass, MM, and standard metabolic rate, BB, among living organisms remains controversial. However, in many cases BB is approximately proportional to the three-quarters power of MM." (a) Write a function that represents this relationship. If you must introduce a new variable, use kk. B=B= \square K(M3(4)) (b) The average mass of an African forest elephant is 4.9 metric tons, and that of a typical mouse is 25 grams. Use part (a) to determine how many times greater the metabolic rate of an elephant is than that of a mouse. Recall that 1 metric ton = 1,000,000 grams. \square times greater

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? We need to write a formula relating metabolic rate to body mass, and then use it to compare the metabolic rates of an elephant and a mouse. Watch out! The units for the elephant and mouse masses are different!
We need to make sure to convert them to the same units before comparing.
Also, "proportional to" doesn't mean "equal to"!

STEP 2

1. Write the function
2. Calculate the elephant's metabolic rate
3. Calculate the mouse's metabolic rate
4. Compare the metabolic rates

STEP 3

"**BB is approximately proportional to the three-quarters power of MM**" means that BB is almost equal to MM raised to the power of 34\frac{3}{4}, multiplied by some constant.
Let's call that constant kk.

STEP 4

So, our function is B=kM34B = k \cdot M^{\frac{3}{4}}.
This captures the idea that as MM increases, BB also increases, but not at the same rate.
It's raised to the power of three-quarters!

STEP 5

The elephant's mass is **4.9 metric tons**.
Since **1 metric ton = 1,000,000 grams**, the elephant's mass in grams is 4.91,000,000=4,900,0004.9 \cdot 1{,}000{,}000 = 4{,}900{,}000 grams.

STEP 6

Plugging this mass into our function, we get Belephant=k(4,900,000)34B_{\text{elephant}} = k \cdot (4{,}900{,}000)^{\frac{3}{4}}.
We don't know kk, but don't worry, it will disappear when we compare the rates.

STEP 7

The mouse's mass is **25 grams**.

STEP 8

Plugging this into our function, we get Bmouse=k(25)34B_{\text{mouse}} = k \cdot (25)^{\frac{3}{4}}.

STEP 9

We want to know how many times greater the elephant's metabolic rate is than the mouse's.
This means we need to divide the elephant's rate by the mouse's rate: BelephantBmouse=k(4,900,000)34k(25)34 \frac{B_{\text{elephant}}}{B_{\text{mouse}}} = \frac{k \cdot (4{,}900{,}000)^{\frac{3}{4}}}{k \cdot (25)^{\frac{3}{4}}}

STEP 10

Notice that the kk values divide to one, so we're left with: (4,900,000)34(25)34 \frac{(4{,}900{,}000)^{\frac{3}{4}}}{(25)^{\frac{3}{4}}}

STEP 11

We can rewrite this as: (4,900,00025)34=(196,000)34 \left( \frac{4{,}900{,}000}{25} \right)^{\frac{3}{4}} = (196{,}000)^{\frac{3}{4}}

STEP 12

Now, we calculate the final result: (196,000)341,825.741,826 (196{,}000)^{\frac{3}{4}} \approx 1{,}825.74 \approx 1{,}826

STEP 13

B=kM34B = k \cdot M^{\frac{3}{4}}.
The elephant's metabolic rate is approximately **1,826** times greater than the mouse's.

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