I often give impromptu daily word problems in class , some of which I have encountered in my daily life. These problems are so that students will see a realistic word problem which actually happened and was solved using mathematics.

Here are some of these problems.

Medical Error Problem

A math professor brought a medication for a family member who needed a 10 mg dose of that medication. This dose was given at 9.00 pm the previous night and suppose it is 8.00 am today. The Pharmacy, which was in a new location, changed the concentration and the professor had accidently given 50mg of the medication (as he used the same amount of teaspoons). The professor, without panicking, Googled the name of the medication and found that the danger threshold for the medication is around 300 mg (so no serious danger) and the half life time of the drug is 6 hours. At which time today, will the drug’s amount go down to the level of the regular dose?

The bulk cereal problem.

Dr. P is trying to get his famous cereal from a famous warehouse store. However it comes in big boxes of 50 oz each and costs $8.00 per box. Once he gets a $3 coupon for box. Compare the cereal prize with a discount store (which will have smaller boxes) and see how many boxes he should buy to get a "profit" to wipe away the annual $50 membership fee.