Real-Life Math
Because physics forms such a key part of their work, nuclear pharmacists require a much more advanced understanding of algebra, geometry and calculus than most other medical professionals.
Whether creating radioactive isotopes, checking the purity of radiopharmaceuticals or measuring dosages for children, many of their everyday tasks call for math skills.
Math even helps them to keep radiation at bay through a handy formula for determining their risk of exposure. "Exposure is dependent on distance," explains John Yuen, a nuclear pharmacist.
"There is a rule: Radiation exposure equals 1 divided by distance squared." Physicists call this the Inverse Square Law.
Yuen offers a practical example of how the law works. "A person has a radioactive source 1 meter away from her. Next, the person steps 2 meters away from the source. The exposure is cut into one-fourth of the source."
You're a nuclear pharmacist at a commercial lab dealing with two different radioactive materials. One material, Product B, is approximately twice as radioactive as the other material, Product A.
There's some paperwork you need to do. You have 2 options: you could work at a desk 10 meters away from where Product B is stored and 8 meters away from where Product A is stored. Or you could stay in the lab 24 meters away from Product B and 4 meters away from Product A.
Assuming that no other factors are involved, where would you receive the least exposure to radiation?
This is the basic formula you will be working with:
Radiation exposure = 1 / distance squared
r = 1 / d2
In this case, total exposure will equal exposure from both Products A and B. Expressed as a formula, this would be:
r = rA + rB
rA = radiation exposure to Product A
rB = radiation exposure to Product B
You need a common variable to determine the relative radiation. Remember that 2 units of Product A are equivalent in radioactivity to 1 unit of Product B:
B = 2A