You began membership in a new health and fitness club which has access to a dietician and personal trainer. They help you develo
p a special eight-week diet and exercise program. The data in the following table represents your weight, w, as a function of time, t, over an eight-week period. Time (weeks)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Weight (lb)
150
144
143
141
140
137
137
132
129
Your weight decreases during each of the first five weeks of the program. Determine the actual change in weight over the first five weeks of the program by subtracting your initial weight from your weight at the end of the first five weeks. What is the sign of your answer? What is the significance of this sign?
a.
137-150 = -13 lb; A change in weight is negative because the weight decreases.
b.
137-150 = 13 lb; A change in weight is positive because the weight decreases.
c.
150-137 = -13 lb; A change in weight is negative because the weight increases.
d.
150-137 = 13 lb; A change in weight is positive because the weight increases.
The mathematical expression 150 - 137 = - 13 pounds is the most appropriate because it includes all the data necessary to express the weight loss over 5 weeks.
To know the weight lost it is necessary to do the following mathematical operations:
1. Subtract the starting weight from the ending weight.
150 - 137 = -13
The -13 means the weight lost during the first 5 weeks of going to the gym.
Note: Neither option is correct. The correct answer would be 150 - 137 = - 13 pounds; A cweight change is negative because it decreases weight.
