Question

Life Sciences: Weight. The average weight of a baby born in 1900 was 6 pounds 4 ounces. In 2000 the average weight of a newborn was 6 pounds 10 ounces. What is the rate of change of birth weight in ounces per year? What do we expect babies to weigh at birth in 2040

Answer 1

Answer: The expected weight of babies in 2040 is 136.4 ounces.

Step-by-step explanation:

Since we have given that

Average weight of a baby born in 1900 = 6 pounds 4 ounces = $6\times 16+4=96+4=100\ ounces$

Average weight of a baby born in 2000 = 6 pounds 10 ounces = $6\times 16+10=96+10=106\ ounces$

So, the rate of change of birth weight in ounces per year would be

$\dfrac{106-100}{2000-1900}=\dfrac{6}{100}=0.06\ ounces/yr$

Since slope = 0.06

Let x be the year and y be the weight in ounces.

So, the equation of line would be

$y-100=0.06(x-1900)\\\\y-100=0.06x-114\\\\y-0.06x=-114+100\\\\y-0.06x=14$

Now, put x = 2040

So, it would become

$y-0.06\times 2040=14\\\\y-122.4=14\\\\y=14+122.4\\\\y=136.4\ ounces$

Hence, the expected weight of babies in 2040 is 136.4 ounces.