The Change of One’s Weight In SIckness

Preface

A patient of my aunt, who also happens to be a good friend of mine, has been sick for a
whole week now. Not knowing how exactly long, he decided to approach me and asked
whether I could figure out if he’ll become underweight in the next three upcoming weeks
–assuming that he’ll still be sick by then. With a height of 160 cm and a weight of 110
lbs., he is considered to be healthy according to the guidelines of the BMI Chart. He’s
quite worried as to what could happen in the future his thoughts of would turn out to be
true.

Task I. Identification of a Model

The selected mathematical model for his situation will be: W(n) = 0.1n3 – 0.6n2 + 110.

This specific model can calculate the weight of a sick patient in lbs. determined by W(n),
where n = the number of weeks since the patient has been sick. It is usually used to
determine the weight of an individual that are ill.

W(n) = 0.1n3 – 0.6n2 + 110

Task II. Scenarios

Problem:

My friend has been sick for a week now –but what if he still will be for the next three
weeks? Those are his exact thoughts, and with it in mind, he wants to determine what
will be his final weight in a total of 4 weeks for safety measurements. Although, even if
he were to lose a lot of it, he wouldn’t be as bothered as long as it doesn’t go below 107
lbs., which is the lowest number that he could have before entering the underweight
stage.

Procedure:

Is W(4) < 107?

W(n) = 0.1n3 – 0.6n2 + 110

W(4) = 0.1(4)3 – 0.6(4)2 + 110

W(n) = 0.1(64) – 0.6(16) + 110

W(n) = 6.4 – 9.6 + 110

W(n) = 106.8

106.8 < 107

With this, we were able to conclude that my friend will indeed become underweight in
the next following three weeks if still were to be ill.

Task III. Analysis and Implications

After solving the mathematical model for my friend’s weight, it shows that an individual’s
weight can change depending on the amount of weeks that they have been ill. In my
friend’s situation, his weight will be an issue as it goes below the minimum number for a
healthy person like him. By using the mathematical model, W(n) = 0.1n 3 – 0.6n2 + 110,
we were able to determine not only the present weight of a sick patient, but of the
future’s as well. Just by inputting the number of weeks since a person has been sick, we
were able to solve the issue at hand.