A patient suffering from manflu is admitted to the Centre for Tropical Diseases, and his white blood cells are monitored before and after the administration of treatment. During the first eight hours, it is found that the number of white blood cells, in thousands per unit of blood, can be modelled by the equation:
y=x^2-4x+12

where x is the time in hours after admission and y is the white blood cell count.
(a) what is the initial number of white blood cells? (i.e. when the patient is admitted)

Question

A patient suffering from manflu is admitted to the Centre for Tropical Diseases, and his white blood cells are monitored before and after the administration of treatment. During the first eight hours, it is found that the number of white blood cells, in thousands per unit of blood, can be modelled by the equation:
y=x^2-4x+12 

where x is the time in hours after admission and y is the white blood cell count.
(a) what is the initial number of white blood cells? (i.e. when the patient is admitted)

mikurout · Answer

12 thousands per unit of blood.

anonymous · Answer

how did you work that out?

mikurout · Answer

by putting x= 0 
as we have to find the value of y at the initial stage.

anonymous · Answer

okay

anonymous · Answer

and because it is in  thousands per unit of blood

mikurout · Answer

yes.