Final answer:
The growth rate in the bacteria model is represented by the number 2 in the equation y = 280 • 2x. The growth rate of 2 means that the number of bacteria doubles with each unit increase in time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The growth rate in the bacteria model is represented by the number 2 in the equation y = 280 • 2x. The equation models exponential growth, where x represents the time and y represents the number of bacteria. The growth rate of 2 means that the number of bacteria doubles with each unit increase in time. For example, if x = 1, there would be 280 • 2 = 560 bacteria.