Question 87·Hard·Nonlinear Functions
The concentration of a certain drug in a patient’s bloodstream hours after an injection is modeled by
Which of the following functions gives the concentration, in milligrams per liter, minutes after the injection?
When a function is given in one time unit but the question asks for another, first write the relationship between the units (for example, when is hours and is minutes). Substitute this expression for the old variable directly into the function, simplify any constants (especially in exponents), and then match your simplified formula to the answer choices. Avoid just changing the variable name or multiplying/dividing the coefficient in the exponent without doing the actual substitution and simplification.
Hints
Focus on the units of time
The formula uses measured in hours, but the question asks for measured in minutes. How many minutes are in one hour?
Express hours in terms of minutes
If is the number of minutes after the injection, how can you write the time in hours, , using ? (Think .)
Substitute and simplify the exponent
After replacing with in , you get an exponent of . Rewrite as a fraction and simplify .
Desmos Guide
Enter the original model in hours
Type f(t) = 50*e^(-0.07*t) + 2 into Desmos. This represents the drug concentration when is in hours.
Create the minutes-based version by substitution
Type a new expression using minutes: g(s) = 50*e^(-0.07*(s/60)) + 2. This directly applies the relationship inside the exponent.
Compare with the answer choices
For each answer choice, type its formula as a function of s (or x) in Desmos. For example, h(s) = 50*e^(-7*s/6000) + 2 for one option. Use a table (e.g., test ) or the graphs to compare outputs of each option to g(s). The correct answer is the one whose graph exactly overlaps g(s) at all points or matches its table values.
Step-by-step Explanation
Relate hours and minutes
The given model is
where is measured in hours.
If is the time in minutes after the injection, then the relationship between and is:
- minutes hour, so
- hours minutes means .
We want a formula that uses instead of .
Substitute minutes into the formula
Replace with in the original model:
Now the only variable is (in minutes), but the exponent can be simplified.
Simplify the coefficient in the exponent
Simplify the product .
Write as a fraction:
- .
Then
So the exponent becomes .
Write the final function and match the choice
Substitute the simplified exponent back into the expression for :
This matches answer choice B, .