How Much Fat

Week Two Assignment

MAT126: Survey of Mathematical Methods

To complete this assignment I was asked to gather three foods, one from breakfast, lunch and dinner and then to write and define the fat content and the protein content from those foods in a mathematical equation. The assignment ask me to compare the fat and protein contents of the package food by analyzing the fat number by using 9 calories per gram of fat and the protein number by using 4 calories per gram of protein.

The products that I have chosen for this assignment are as follows: Natures Valley Sweet & Salty Breakfast bar, Frozen Mini Chicken Taco’s, and Trader Joes Potato Pancakes.

To begin the problem I had to create a equation. One gram of fat equaled nine calories. For example, 2 grams of fat would equal 18 calories because 2 * 9 = 18. I also had to know for the protein content for every gram equals four calories. For example, 1.8 grams equals 7.2 calories because 1.8 x 4 = 7.2 the last thing I needed to know was the calories per serving for each food item.

For my breakfast item, I chose to use is a Sweet and Salty Breakfast Bar which has 170 calories per serving. The fat in the breakfast bar is 9 grams (remember that for every gram of fat equals 9 calories). So, the fat content of a granola bar would be 81 grams because 9 x 9 = 81 grams. To find the percentage of fat, I divided the total grams of fat and the total calories per serving. Therefore, 81 / 170 * 100% = 47% grams of fat calories. The protein content for this item is 4 g, I would multiply 4 g by 4 calories because each gram of protein is counted as 4 calories. 4 protein grams *4 calories = 16 protein calories. I would divide the total number of protein calories by number of calories per serving 16/170 = .09 4 * 100 = 9.4 % grams of protein caloriesper serving.

For my Lunch Item I choose to use Trader Joes frozen potatoes pancake products which has 140 calories per serving. The fat content in the...