Final answer:
To determine how long it would take for ⅛ of the initial dose to remain in the athlete's body, we can use the concept of half-life.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how long it would take for ⅛ of the initial dose to remain in the athlete's body, we can use the concept of half-life. The half-life of the steroids is given as 42 days. In a first-order process, the rate constant can be calculated using the formula:
r = ln(2) / t1/2
where r is the rate constant and t1/2 is the half-life. Substituting the given value, we find:
r = ln(2) / 42
Once we have the rate constant, we can use it to determine the time it takes for ⅛ of the initial dose to remain. The equation for this is:
t = (ln(8) / r) * t1/2
Substituting the values, we get:
t = (ln(8) / (ln(2) / 42)) * 42
Simplifying the expression gives an approximate value of t = 119.7 days.