Math Is Fun Forum

zkt

Member

Registered: 2007-04-29

Posts: 1

basic statistics

Considering two blood tests; potassium and testosterone .
The normal range of potassium is 3.6-5.0 mmol/l
The normal range of testosterone is 225-978 ng/dl (male)
The variance in potassium levels is small and that of testosterone large.
Eventhough the units of measurement differ, can we conclude that the serum level of potassium is about the same for everyone and that testosterone levels wary widely between individuals?

John E. Franklin

Member

Registered: 2005-08-29

Posts: 3,588

Re: basic statistics

Since a mole of K (potassium) is about 39 grams, then
we are between 150 and 200 milligrams per liter. (I'm no chemist though)

and the n in ng must be nano grams?? milli, micro, nano, pico, so nano means billionth or 10 to the negative 9th power.

Now the Luteinizing (luteinising) hormone may be responsible for testosterone, I read.
Reading more on subject is important.  Don't jump to conclusions.

Also, remember that the larger value (K or potassium), has a larger range in absolute terms, but a smaller range in ratio terms, like proportional terms. 

If you compare the max to the min, you get a proportional change about itself.
But if you compare max to min with subtraction, instead of division, then you get
an absolute range, which brings you back to reality, because it is associated with
real-life units, such as grams and liters.

Last edited by John E. Franklin (2007-04-30 10:59:47)

---

igloo myrtilles fourmis