Real-Life Math -- Solution
Start by calculating the number of adults by age group to see how much vaccine they'll require.
73 senior citizens x 28 mg = 2,044 mg of vaccine
34 adults (between age 35 and 64) x 24 mg = 816 mg of vaccine
18 adults (between age 18 and 34) / 2 (only half will be vaccinated) x 20 mg = 180 mg of vaccine
Once you've calculated the vaccine needed for each age group, add the vaccine amounts together:
2,044 mg + 816 mg + 180 mg = 3,040 mg of vaccine
Based on your calculations, you'll need to order 3,040 mg of the flu vaccine.
"Doctors need to use math quite often," says Dr. Ross Black, a family physician. He says doctors are constantly calculating different equations. These equations could involve a patient's weight, measuring out dosages of medicine, taking blood tests and calculating averages.