200

8
Mrs. Catalano
Math 42 S IB

Cristen Dick

[MATH PORTFOLIO]
Body Mass Index
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

INTRODUCTION
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of an individual’s total body fat with
reference to two variables. The two variables are height and weight. To calculate
body mass index an individual’s weight (kg) is divided by the square of his or her
height (m). However, the equation to derive an individual’s body mass index will not
be used for data is provided corresponding to a range of ages.
This final assessment investigates the trend within the data Chart 1.0: Median
Body Mass Index (BMI) for Females of Different Ages in the US (2000) and the graph
responding to this data, Graph 1.0: Relationship between Age and Body Mass Index.
The overall trend is predicted to create a curved line that will correspond to several
different functions. One of these several functions will be used as a model to derive
additional functions and information. The function will be chosen based on the
margin of error it presents and how the extrapolation of the graph fits acceptable
results for Body Mass Index of a higher aged female. The concept used to solve the
assignment is trigonometric functions. With this concept, methods such as deriving
functional equations from graphs and graphing sinusoidal functions are used. All the
graphs produced are completed using Graphical Analysis 3.4.

PART A
The first task in part A is to use technology to plot the data points in Table 1.0
onto a graph. In Table 1.0, two variables are given; Age set in years and Body Mass
Index. The ages range from 2 - 13 and Body Mass Index from 15.20 – 21.65. The

Age
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
(years)
Body Mass 16.4 15.7 15.3 15.2 15.2 15.4 15.8 16.3 16.8 17.5 18.1 18.7
Index 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
19.3 19.8 20.4 20.8 21.2 21.6 21.6
6 8 0 5 2 0 5
graph was made using Graphical Analysis 3.4.

Table 1.0: Median Body Mass Index (BMI) for Females of Different Ages in the US (2000)

Variables:
The two variables given initially are Age (Years) and Body Mass Index. The
Independent variable is Age, and the dependant is Body Mass Index. An
independent variable is defined as being selected and able to be controlled. Since
the ages are ordered in equal increments this shows that age was controlled and
pre-selected. Body Mass Index was selected to be the dependant variable because a
dependent variable is defined as being dependent upon the independent and un-
controllable. This is seen as a reasonable decision because Body Mass Index is
calculated using an individual’s height and weight, and as an individual progresses
from ages 2 – 20, it is inevitable that he or she will gain weight and grow taller.
Thus, a person’s Body Mass Index is dependent upon height, weight, and, as a
result, age.
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

Graph 1.0: Relationship between Age and Body Mass Index

Graph 1.0, shows data placed on a graph. Body Mass Index data was selected to
be the dependant variable and therefore was on the y-axis. This left Age to be on
the x-axis because it is the independent variable. The data was connected together
using a curved line to see if a function was modeled. A part of a sinusoidal function
is seen but, at this point; it is too early to define which one it would be.

PART B
The previous graph, graph 1.0, modeled a sinusoidal function. A sinusoidal
function is a graph, which can be defined by the expressions y = sin x or y = cos x.
These two sinusoidal functions have parameters a, b, c, and d which represent
constants. Each of these parameters changes the graph in a specific way. A
changed the amplitude which is the distance from the equator to the highest and
lowest points on the graph. B is the period, which is the length, in x-values, of one
period. C is the horizontal shift and D is the vertical shift. With the parameters, the
expression become Y= A sin (B x + C) + D and Y = A cos (B x + C) + D. To choose
one of the two functions, graphs were made (Graph 1.1 and 1.2 below) at the
normal a, b, c, and d values. The parameters of A and B were set equal to one and
parameters C and D were set equal to zero.

Graph 1.1: Sine Graph ( Y = A sin (B x + C) + D ) Graph 1.2: Cosine Graph ( Y

= A cos ( B x + C) + D
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

The graph chosen as the model function is cosine. This is because Graph 1.0 has
the beginning of the graph start from a higher y-value and proceeds to a lower y-
value. The cosine function has this same effect. The sine graph starts at the origin
(0, 0), which means that it starts at a low y-value and proceeds to a higher one.
Once the type of function was chosen, the parameters were found manually.

A. Found by taking the highest and lowest point and subtracting them to get the
area in between the two. Once this would found, two divided the value, which gave
the area that would be equal above and below the midline.

Graph 1.3: Deriving Amplitude from Initial Graph Work: (BMI)

21.65 – 15.20 = 6.45

6.45 / 2 = 3.23

A = 3.23

B. Variable B is found with the formula T (Period) = 3.14 / B. Variable B can be

isolated when the distance (x-value) of one period is known. Since the initial graph
did not give a full period, the graph needed to be extrapolated. First, when finding
the value for amplitude, the area between the high and low y-values was found.
Then two, to get the equal area from the midline to the highest and lowest y-values
divided the value. The value found was 3.23. With this value, the midline was
calculated by adding it to the lowest y-value (or it could have been subtracted from
the highest y-value).

15.20 + 3.23 = 18.43 (BMI)

December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

With the extrapolation of the graph, the point at which the graph touches the
midpoint was found. The graph, for this purpose, was extrapolated using the
function that had the least error margin. Thus, the Quartic function was used and
gave the equation; 18.86 -1.630X + 0.2167X2 – 0.008354X3 + 9.726E-005X4. The
error of this function was 0.04564.

Graph 1.4: Extrapolation of Initial Graph: Finding Intersections

In a closer view of the intersections:

Graph 1.5: Data Point 1 – First Intersection From the Origin at Midpoint

Graph 1.6: Data Point 2 – Second Intersection From the Origin at Midpoint
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

With the graphs extrapolated, the x-values of the start and end of one full period
are found. With this data, the value of one period can be found by subtracting the x-
value of the second data point from the first.

29.738 – 0.276 = 29.46 (Years)

Now the formula can be set up and B can be calculated:

T (period) = 3.14 / B
B = 3.14 / T(Period)
B = 3.14 / 29.46
B = 0.11

C. Variable C is a horizontal shift. The shift is the distance from the y-axis.

Graph 1.7: Determining Variable C

December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

The distance from the origin of the y-axis to the first point on the extrapolated
graph was 0.242. Thus, variable C becomes -0.242 because the C value is switched
when pulled outside brackets. (For example: (x – 3)  x + 3)

C = -0.242

D. Variable D is the vertical shift also known as the equator. The equator was
established when deriving variable B and was found to be 18.43.

D = 18.43

In the end, the expression for the cosine function is (A cos (B x + C) + D):

3.23 cos (0.11 x – 0.242) + 18.43

However, since the values of the initial graphed data curve under instead of over
in the beginning the A value is changed to negative making for final expression
derived manually;

-3.23 cos (0.11 x – 0.242) + 18.43

The Model was refined using technology but had many similarities to the
expression derived manually. The program Graphical Analysis 3.4 was used to get
the cosine function of the data given, with a smaller error margin.

Table 1.1: Difference between Manually Derived Expression and Technology Derived
Expression.
Manually Derived Expression Technology Derived Expression Differenc
e
-3.23 cos (0.11 x – 0.242) + 18.43 -3.130 cos (0.2161 x - 1.162) + 18.44 -
A -3.23 -3.130 0.10
A
B 0.11 0.2161 0.1061
B
C -0.242 -1.162 0.92
C
D 18.43 18.44 0.11
D
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

Age 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
(Years)
Body Mass 16.2 15.7 15.4 15.3 15.3 15.4 15.7 16.1 16.7 17.3 18.0 18.7
Index 0 6 6 1 0 6 5 8 2 5 2 2
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
19.3 20.0 20.5 21.0 21.3 21.4 21.5
9 2 6 0 0 6 0

Graph 1.8: Relationship between Initial Graph and Model Function (Cosine Function)

The cosine function is Y = -3.130 cos (0.2161 x -1.162) + 18.44. The error of
this equation with reference to the initial graph is 0.1338. The differences between
the initial data graph and the model function is the model function continues on to
infinite x-values. This gives the two, different domains but the same range.

The domain for the graph is [15.20, 21.65}

The range for the initial data graph is [2, 20], The domain for the new graph is x is an
element of all real numbers.

PART C
Technology was used to derive a function that models the data given. However,
another graph can be used to model this data as well. Since the graph still models a
sinusoidal function the second of the two (y = cos x, y = sin x) can be used. Thus, a
sine graph is created to model the data. Since the cosine model, models the initial
data graph the new model graph is going to be compared to the initial model graph.
To do so, the data points of the model graph are found as decimals. Only y-values
that refer to the x-values from 2 to 20 are used since the initial graph only used
these x-values.

Table 1.2: Body Mass Index (BMI) for Cosine Function

*The Body Mass Index data points are slightly different from the initial data
points.
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

A Graph is constructed comparing the model cosine function (Blue) to the new
model sine function (red).

Graph 1.9: Comparison between Model Function (Cos Function) and Sine Function

The sine functions expression is -3.1041 sin (0.2241 x + 0.3339) + 18.3881. It

has an error of 0.008206.

The functions are almost the exact same as seen on this graph. However, the
expressions of each function as seen in the parameters a, b, c, and d notice a
difference.

Table 1.3: Comparison between Cosine Function and Sine Function

Cosine Function Sine Function Difference

A -3.1300 -3.1041 0.0259
B 0.2161 0.2241 0.0080
C -1.1616 0.3339 0.8277
D 18.4404 18.3881 0.0523

A major difference between the two expressions is that the C on the sine
function is positive while it is negative on the other.

PART D
The Cosine model function can be used to gain data of Body Mass Indexes (y-
value) for different ages (x-value). This is done by increasing the range of x-values
and locating the point at which the model functions curved line intersects the
required age vertical line. To estimate the Body Mass Index of a 30 year old female,
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

the y-value at which the model functions curved line intersects the 30 (x-value) age
vertical line is collected.

Graph 2.0: Model Function Extrapolation

The value can be seen closer up;

Graph 2.1: Model Function Extrapolation (Close up)

The
Body
Mass Index
(BMI) of a female of 30.00 years of age is 16.65. Considering the error of the cosine
model - 0.1338 the range would be approximation would be from 16.5162 –
16.7838. However, the normal BMI for older women is 18.5 – 24.9i. This
approximation is very low and would make the majority of the population of females
in the United States at the age of 30, significantly underweight. However, since
Body Mass Index is calculated using a person’s weight and height, other factors
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

may permit this data to be true. However, that is unlikely. Thus, the cosine function
may not have been the appropriate function to model the data.

PART E
Using an internet source, Body Mass Index data from the United Kingdom was
found. The data given has the ages of females ranging from 2 – 19, and the Body
Mass Index ranges from 17.30 – 24.90. These values are all higher than the United
States female values. This data is from 1990.

Table 1.4: Body Mass Index Data for Females in the United Kingdom (1990)

Using the data collected from an internet source, both the earlier cosine data
points and these data points are plotted on a graph. The date is plotted using
Graphical Analysis 3.4.

Age
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
(Years)
Body Mass 18.1 17.5 17.3 17.3 17.5 17.9 18.4 19.1 19.8 20.5 21.3 22.1
Index 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
22.8 23.4 23.9 24.3 24.6 24.9
-
0 0 0 0 0 0
Graph 2.2: Comparison between Graph (Cos Function) and Data Set 3 (England Data)
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick

The difference between the two curved lines derived is that the United Kingdom
data is equally set higher than the United States data. Therefore, my model does
not fit the new data because the vertical shift (D value) is larger for the new data
set than the cosine model. To make my model fit the new data; parameter d would
have to be decreased by at least 2.0. Otherwise, the two curves are very similar.
The limitations to my model are that it is centered on the data of the United
States census. Therefore, it will only be fit the United States data accurately. The
overall curve of the model fits the overall trend from the ages of 2-20. This is seen
in graph 1.9 and 2.2 as the graph curves under, increases exponentially, and then
curves over. Thus, it would seem acceptable to say that by restricting the x-value to
the ages of 2 – 20 the graph would be accurate. However, with additional periods in
the sinusoidal graphs, the Body Mass Index’s will repeat and give inaccurate
conclusions.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the trend within the Body Mass Index data for females in the
United States was found. It was used to discover resultant trends and limitations of
different types of graphs. In this portfolio, sinusoidal functions were explored and
are now known at an in depth nature. However as Part E illustrates, the model
functions chosen, may not have been acceptable.
December 19, 2008 Math Portfolio: Body Mass Index Cristen Dick
i
http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm