Test question: How many carbohydrates in this food were contributed?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a test question regarding the calculation of carbohydrates and their contribution to total caloric intake from a food item. Participants explore various methods to derive the answer, focusing on the relationship between total carbohydrates, sugars, and caloric values. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and conceptual clarification related to nutrition and food labeling.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates the percentage of carbohydrates based on daily values and attempts to derive caloric contributions, expressing uncertainty about the method used.
  • Another participant suggests that if total carbohydrates are 24g and sugars are 12g, then sugars contribute 50% of the calories, leading to a calculation of 80 calories from sugars.
  • Several participants express confusion about how to determine the contribution of carbohydrates to calories, questioning the assumptions made regarding the percentages and the role of dietary fiber.
  • One participant clarifies that total carbohydrates include sugars and fibers, and only sugars contribute to caloric intake, reinforcing the 50% calculation.
  • Another participant raises a question about how to calculate calories from fat, indicating a lack of information on fat contributions in the context of the question.
  • A participant critiques the question for requiring unsupported assumptions and expresses frustration with its ambiguity.
  • Some participants discuss the implications of the test question being from a Biology 1107 class, suggesting it may serve as a screening tool for future biology students.
  • There is a debate about who might pass the test, with opinions on the role of prior study versus luck in answering the question correctly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views on how to approach the calculation of calories from carbohydrates and the assumptions involved. There is no consensus on the correct method or answer, and confusion remains regarding the contributions of different macronutrients.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the question lacks clear definitions and may rely on assumptions not provided in the test. There is also mention of potential rounding errors in caloric calculations.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students studying nutrition, biology, or those preparing for exams that involve food labeling and caloric calculations.

Lo.Lee.Ta.
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Test question: "How many carbohydrates in this food were contributed?"

=_= I think my other posts were deleted. So let me post them again with some revisions...

1.
nutritionfactstestquestion_zps5dd5a60e.jpg



2. Alright... I thought that maybe the percent daily value had something to do with calculating the answer. So on the test, I took into account all the percentages to see what percentage was made up of carbohydrates.
I did:

(8%/(9% + 11% + 7% + 8% + 16%) = .08/.51 = .1567
Then I did .1567 x 160calories = 25.09 calories.

I tried to match one of the answers...
So I put D (24).

This really was a guess and while typing it, I feel like my proceedure is so bogus.
But we never went over anything like this in class, it was not in the book, or on hw...

So I have no idea how to figure out the answer.

The real answer is C (80), but I don't see how to get this at all.

Would you please show me how to figure this out?

Thank you so much! :)
 
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looks like if calories are contributed by total carbohydrates alone (24g) and sugars are (12g) then that means 50% are contributed by sugars hence 1/2 * 160 = 80.
 


I am sorry, but I am still confused as to how you got 50% for the carbs...


How can we figure the number of grams of carbohydrates to find the number of calories from them?
I mean, 3g of fat and 3g of carbs will not contribute the same amount of calories.

So we need to total the total carbs + sugars? So, 24g + 12g = 36g?

If this is what you mean to do, I don't see how it relates to 50% of calories from carbs.
 


Lo.Lee.Ta. said:
I am sorry, but I am still confused as to how you got 50% for the carbs...


How can we figure the number of grams of carbohydrates to find the number of calories from them?
I mean, 3g of fat and 3g of carbs will not contribute the same amount of calories.

So we need to total the total carbs + sugars? So, 24g + 12g = 36g?

If this is what you mean to do, I don't see how it relates to 50% of calories from carbs.

The sugar is listed under total carbohydrates. Total carbohydrates is composed of two parts fibers and sugar and some unspecified carbohydrates so that means 24 g = 4g fiber + 12 g sugar + 8 g some unspecified source. So the question says calories from a carbohydrate which is sugar alone hence 12/24 = 50% since only total carbohydrates generate the 160 calories and so we get 50% * 160 = 80 calories from sugar.
 


Oh, I didn't think that when they said to find the carb calories, it meant only from sugar! Okay, I guess that makes sense because dietary fiber can't be digested so it doesn't contribute calories!

But what if I was trying to figure out the calories from fat?
How would I figure that out? It seems that we could not get a percentage in that case...:confused:

Thanks for the help! :D
 


I don't like the question. Solving it requires several assumptions which are difficult to support.

Is it from the same test where the pH question was asked?
 


Here's my 2 cents.

1 serving of this food contains 160 calories.

Fat contains 9 calories per gram.
Carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram.
Protein contains 4 calories per gram.

So one serving (of 35 grams) contains:
6 x 9 = 54 calories of fat
24 x 4 = 96 calories of carbohydrates
4 x 4 = 16 calories of protein
This totals 166 calories.
The difference will be caused by rounding errors, which I will ignore.

In other words the answer must be (B) 96 calories.
With different roundings, or different portions, we'll get nowhere near the other answers.
IMO, your "real" answer (C) 80 calories must be wrong.
 


@Borek- Yes, this was from the same test. :/

@I Like Serena- Wow, you even knew the number of calories per gram for carbs, fat, and protein! It turns out to be 96calories and not even 80! =_=#
Wow, I feel like this question was sort of bogus...
Ugh, we never even learned the ratios of calories to every gram of carb, fat, protein...
Hm. :/

@jedishrfu- I see how I might try to find calories from carbohydrates now!
But I guess calories from fat can't be figured out with the limited information.
Thanks! :)
 
  • #10


Lo.Lee.Ta. said:
@I Like Serena- Wow, you even knew the number of calories per gram for carbs, fat, and protein! It turns out to be 96calories and not even 80! =_=#
Wow, I feel like this question was sort of bogus...
Ugh, we never even learned the ratios of calories to every gram of carb, fat, protein...
Hm. :/

Now you know! :)

All calories in food come from fat, carbohydrates, protein and alcohol.
You can only solve this problem if you know the ratios.
 
  • #11


I like Serena said:
Now you know! :)

All calories in food come from fat, carbohydrates, protein and alcohol.
You can only solve this problem if you know the ratios.

Much as I hate questions like this with apparently hidden assumptions and facts. I would have to say that since they didn't explicitly provide the other ratios or calories that they are in fact zero. There was one label I saw that had listed the calories from fat so since it wasn't shown it ust be zero by default.

So what is this test? is it a simple health test? or something for nursing / nutritionist certification?
 
  • #12


It was a test question from my Biology 1107 class (which is the first biology for science majors).
 
  • #13


Lo.Lee.Ta. said:
It was a test question from my Biology 1107 class (which is the first biology for science majors).

Okay so this must be a screener class trying to weed out future wannabe biologists hence the fuzzy questions.
 
  • #14


HAHAHAHA! XD

You are exactly right! :D It is that sort of class.
 
  • #15


Question is, who passed - those that got it, or those that didn't?
 
  • #16


Borek said:
Question is, who passed - those that got it, or those that didn't?

My guess is those that got it because they've studied outside of class determined to get through it no matter what and those who have dumb luck on their side so far and those who don't care knowing its screener and they still want to pursue that course.
 
  • #17


That means I am out. I wouldn't get it, as there is no unambiguous answer, only some random attempts. GIGO.
 

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