College

You began membership in a new health and fitness club with access to a dietician and personal trainer. They help you develop a special eight-week diet and exercise program. The data in the following table represents your weight, [tex]\(w\)[/tex], as a function of time, [tex]\(t\)[/tex], over an eight-week period.

[tex]
\[
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline
\text{Time (weeks)} & 0 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 \\
\hline
\text{Weight (lbs)} & 150 & 144 & 143 & 141 & 140 & 137 & 137 & 132 & 129 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\]
[/tex]

Using [tex]\(\Delta\)[/tex] notation, determine the average rate of change of weight over the last four weeks of the program (include weeks 4 and 8 in your calculations).

A. -2.75 pounds per week
B. +2.75 pounds per week
C. -4.0 pounds per week
D. +0.38 pounds per week

Please select the best answer from the choices provided.

Answer :

To determine the average rate of change of weight over the last four weeks of the program, we will use [tex]$\Delta$[/tex] notation. The average rate of change formula is as follows:

[tex]\[
\text{Average rate of change} = \frac{\Delta w}{\Delta t} = \frac{w_{\text{final}} - w_{\text{initial}}}{t_{\text{final}} - t_{\text{initial}}}
\][/tex]

Here, we are interested in the change from week 4 to week 8.

1. Identify the weights at week 4 and week 8:
- Weight at week 4: [tex]\( w_4 = 140 \)[/tex]
- Weight at week 8: [tex]\( w_8 = 129 \)[/tex]

2. Identify the corresponding times:
- Initial time, [tex]\( t_{\text{initial}} = 4 \)[/tex]
- Final time, [tex]\( t_{\text{final}} = 8 \)[/tex]

3. Calculate the change in weight ([tex]\(\Delta w\)[/tex]):
[tex]\[
\Delta w = w_8 - w_4 = 129 - 140 = -11 \text{ pounds}
\][/tex]

4. Calculate the change in time ([tex]\(\Delta t\)[/tex]):
[tex]\[
\Delta t = t_{\text{final}} - t_{\text{initial}} = 8 - 4 = 4 \text{ weeks}
\][/tex]

5. Calculate the average rate of change of weight:
[tex]\[
\text{Average rate of change} = \frac{\Delta w}{\Delta t} = \frac{-11}{4} = -2.75 \text{ pounds per week}
\][/tex]

Therefore, the average rate of change of weight over the last four weeks of the program is [tex]\(-2.75\)[/tex] pounds per week. The best answer from the choices provided is:

a. -2.75 pounds per week