Question

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of a vitamin is \(14 \mathrm{mg}\) (milligrams). If a multivitamin provides \(55 \%\) of the RDA, how many milligrams of the vitamin would the client receive from the multivitamin?

Short answer

7.7 mg

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Problem

The question asks us to find out how much of a vitamin is in a multivitamin that provides 55% of the RDA, which is 14 mg.

Convert Percentage to Decimal

First, convert the percentage (55%) into a decimal for calculation purposes. To do this, divide 55 by 100, which gives us 0.55.

Multiply RDA by Decimal

Multiply the RDA (14 mg) by the decimal equivalent of the percentage (0.55). This is calculated as follows: \[14 \times 0.55 = 7.7\]Thus, the multivitamin provides 7.7 mg of the vitamin.

Key concepts

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)

Understanding the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is essential when discussing nutrition and vitamin intake. The RDA is a guideline developed by health authorities to indicate the ideal daily intake level of essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, for most healthy people. This value is determined through scientific research and is meant to help prevent deficiency diseases and support overall health.

When looking at the RDA of a vitamin, like Vitamin C, it helps to ensure that people consume enough nutrients to meet their body's basic needs. While the RDA provides a baseline, individuals may require different amounts based on factors such as age, gender, and health status. For instance, pregnant women might have a higher RDA for certain vitamins.

In the context of our exercise, the RDA is given as 14 mg of a specific vitamin, providing a reference point to measure the adequacy of vitamin intake from dietary supplements like multivitamins.

Percentage Calculation

Percentage calculations are a crucial part of everyday math applications, including dosage calculations in medication and nutrition. To perform a percentage calculation, you first convert the percentage into a decimal. This is done by dividing the percentage by 100.

In the exercise, the percentage given is 55%. Converting this percentage to a decimal involves the simple calculation: \[ \frac{55}{100} = 0.55 \]

Once you have the decimal, the next step is to multiply it by the reference amount—in this case, the RDA of the vitamin, which is 14 mg. By doing this calculation: \[ 14 \times 0.55 = 7.7 \text{ mg} \]

The resulting number represents the amount of vitamin provided by the multivitamin. Understanding this simple process allows you to accurately interpret dosage information on labels and ensure you're meeting your nutritional needs.

Vitamin Intake

Vitamin intake is vital for maintaining good health and preventing nutritional deficiencies. Vitamins are compounds that our bodies need in small amounts to function properly. They help in various bodily functions such as boosting immunity, strengthening bones, and healing wounds.

The exercise focuses on determining how much of a specific vitamin is consumed when taking a multivitamin. Multivitamins are dietary supplements designed to fill gaps in a person's nutrition. They often provide a certain percentage of the RDA of various vitamins and minerals.

By understanding how to calculate vitamin intake through percentage, you can better manage your nutritional intake and ensure you are meeting your health goals. For example, if a vitamin is provided in a multivitamin at 55% of the RDA, as in the exercise, knowing how to perform the calculation ensures you recognize exactly how much of each nutrient you are receiving daily.