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(1 pt) Hydrocodone bitartrate is used as a cough suppressant. After the drug is

ID: 2866501 • Letter: #

Question

(1 pt) Hydrocodone bitartrate is used as a cough suppressant. After the drug is fully absorbed, the quantity of drug in the body decreases at a rate proportional to the amount left in the body, with constant of proportionality k. Suppose that the half-life of hydrocodone bitartrate in the body is 3.7 hours, and that the oral dose taken is 11 mg. (a) Write a differential equation for the quantity, Q, of hydrocodone bitartrate in the body at time t, in hours, since the drug was fully absorbed. Q' = (Write your answer in terms of Q and t, e.g., Q' = 3t(1 - kQ).) (b) Solve your differential equation, assuming that at t = 0 the patient has just absorbed the full 11 mg dose of the drug. Q = _________ (Your solution may include the constant of proporationality k, but should not include any other unspecified constant.) (c) Use the half-life to find the constant of proportionality, k. k = (d) How much of the 11 mg dose is still in the body after 12 hours? Amount = (include units)

Explanation / Answer

You'll start with an equation in the form of:

y = Ce^(kt)

Where C is the original amount, k is the constant of proportionality, and t is the time.

Here, the question tells you that "the oral does taken is 11 mg", so C is 11

y = 11e^(kt)
This will be the answer to part A

(a) Q = 11e^(kt)

For part b, it looks like your supposed to set t=0

Q = 11e^(0)
Q = 11

I'm actually really not sure about that one, so let's move.

For part c

It tells you that the half life is 3.7 hours. So, t = 3.7

Q = 11e^(3.7k)

At t= 3.7, Q will be half of 11 (hence the name half-life)

5.5 = 11e^(3.7k)

5.5/11 = e^(3.7k)

0.5 = e^(3.7k)

Take the natural log of both sides

ln(0.5) = 3.7k

k = ln(0.5) / 3.7

And that's the constant of proportionality.

For d, just plug everything into the equation

Q = 11e^(kt)

Q = 1.23mg