Problem 27 - Elementary Algebra

Question

Find the number of emergency room visits for nail gun injuries that involve workers. Nail guns are powerful, casy to operate, and boost productivity for nailing tasks. They are also responsible for an estimated 37,000 emergency room visits each year \(-68 \%\) of these involve workers and \(32 \%\) involve consumers. (Source: www.cdc.gov, Oct 12, 2011)

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

25,160 visits involve workers.

Step 1: Identify Total Number of Visits

The problem states that there are an estimated 37,000 emergency room visits each year due to nail gun injuries.

Step 2: Determine Worker Percentage

The problem specifies that 68% of these visits involve workers. In percentage terms, this is written as 0.68.

Step 3: Calculate Number of Visits Involving Workers

To find the number of visits involving workers, multiply the total number of visits by the worker percentage: \[ 37,000 \times 0.68 \]

Key Concepts

emergency room visits

Each year, many people visit the emergency room for various injuries. Emergency room visits are medical emergencies that require immediate attention. These visits can be due to anything from accidents, illnesses, and in this case, nail gun injuries.

Knowing that there are around 37,000 emergency room visits annually for nail gun injuries helps us understand the scale of the problem. This number is crucial for public health officials and safety organizations to develop better prevention strategies.

Emergency room visits provide data that can highlight how and where accidents occur most often, guiding improvements in workplace safety and consumer protection.

nail gun injuries

Nail guns are common tools used in construction and home improvement projects. While they significantly increase productivity, they come with certain risks. Nail gun injuries can happen to both professionals and consumers, leading to a significant number of emergency room visits.

Many nail gun injuries result from inadvertent nail discharge, improper handling, or malfunctioning equipment. For professionals, these injuries are predominantly work-related, as indicated by the 68% statistic. These injuries often occur during activities such as framing, roofing, and carpentry.

Safety measures and proper training in using these tools can greatly reduce the risk of injuries. It's essential for both workers and hobbyists to follow safety guidelines strictly.

calculating percentages

Understanding how to calculate percentages is a useful skill, especially in problems like figuring out the number of emergency room visits for specific causes. First, identify the total number in question, which in this problem is 37,000.

To calculate the number of emergency room visits involving workers, use the given percentage. Here, 68% of the visits are work-related. In percentage calculations, 'percent' means 'per hundred', so 68% is the same as 68 out of 100, or 0.68.

The calculation involves multiplying the total number by the percentage as a decimal:
\[ 37,000 \times 0.68 \]

By performing this multiplication, you can find the exact number of work-related visits. This simple method can be applied to many real-life scenarios involving percentages.