Question

An infant drinks 4 ounces of a ready to feed formula every 3 hours during the day and night. The formula comes in a quart container. How many quarts of formula should the mother buy for a 7 day supply? ______ \(q t\)

Short answer

7 quarts

Step-by-step solution

Convert Quarts to Ounces

First, recall that 1 quart equals 32 ounces. Therefore, knowing the formula in ounces will help us determine the total amount needed. Thus, 1 quart = 32 ounces.

Calculate Daily Ounce Requirement

The infant drinks 4 ounces every 3 hours. In one day, there are 24 hours. Therefore, the number of 3-hour segments in a day is calculated as follows: \[ \frac{24}{3} = 8 \text{ segments} \]Then, the total daily consumption in ounces is:\[ 8 \times 4 = 32 \text{ ounces} \]

Calculate Weekly Ounce Requirement

Since the infant drinks 32 ounces per day, for 7 days, the total ounces required are:\[ 32 \times 7 = 224 \text{ ounces} \] over the week.

Convert Weekly Ounces to Quarts

To find out how many quarts are needed, divide the total ounces by the number of ounces per quart:\[ \frac{224}{32} = 7 \text{ quarts} \]Thus, the mother needs 7 quarts of formula for the week.

Key concepts

Infant Nutrition

Infant nutrition is crucial for a baby's growth and development. During the first months of life, an infant's diet consists mainly of milk, either breast milk or formula. Formulas are specially designed to closely mimic the nutritional profile of human milk, providing essential nutrients that support healthy development.
A typical formula will usually contain:

• Proteins: to support growth
• Carbohydrates: for energy
• Fats: essential for brain development
• Vitamins and minerals: to enhance bodily functions

Parents need to ensure their infant is receiving the right quantity of formula to promote healthy growth and meet their nutritional needs. The amount may vary based on the age and weight of the infant, but healthcare providers can help in assessing exact nutritional requirements.
Ensuring proper nutrition during infancy is foundational for lifelong health, and caregivers should always follow the recommended guidelines for feeding.

Daily Consumption Calculation

Calculating daily consumption is essential to understand how much food or fluid an infant requires each day. In this scenario, the infant consumes 4 ounces of formula every 3 hours. To determine the daily need, we begin by calculating how frequently the infant is fed in a 24-hour period.
In one day, with feeding every 3 hours, the infant has:

• 8 feedings (since 24 ÷ 3 = 8)

Thus, total daily consumption is calculated by multiplying the feeding amount by the number of feedings:

• 4 ounces per feeding × 8 feedings = 32 ounces daily

Understanding daily consumption helps ensure that the caregiver provides consistent nourishment and is also crucial in planning for periods when more supply is needed, such as during a week-long supply calculation.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is a mathematical skill that translates measurements from one unit to another. It is an essential concept in various fields, including infant nutrition, where converting units helps in calculating dietary needs. For the infant's formula, we need to convert between ounces and quarts.
In measurement, it is important to know:

• 1 quart = 32 ounces

This conversion factor allows us to determine how much formula an infant needs over a week. By converting daily consumption from ounces to quarts, caregivers can decide the correct amount of formula to buy, ensuring they have enough supply. Knowing these conversions ensures proper planning and helps avoid running out of essential supplies.

Mathematical Problem Solving

Mathematical problem solving involves breaking down complex problems into manageable steps to find solutions. In the given exercise, we perform a series of straightforward calculations based on known data to solve a real-world problem about infant formula supply.
The process includes:

• Recognizing the need to calculate total consumption over a week
• Adding up daily intakes: 32 ounces per day
• Multiplying to find weekly consumption: 32 ounces/day × 7 days = 224 ounces
• Lastly, converting this total into the needed unit, quarts, using the conversion that 1 quart = 32 ounces: 224 ounces ÷ 32 = 7 quarts

Breaking down the problem step-by-step allows us to approach each part of the problem logically, ensuring accurate results. This methodical procedure can be applied to various types of problems, enhancing problem-solving skills in everyday life.