Question

A particular strain of bacteria doubles in population every 10 minutes. Assuming you start with a single bacterium in a petri dish, how many bacteria will there be in 2.5 hours

Answer 1

Explanation:

32,768

Answer 2

Let the initial number of bacteria be
`x_(0)`

Number of bacteria doubles in population every 10 minutes

After 10 minutes number of bacteria = 2
`x_(0)`

number of bacteria present after t minutes,

`x = x_(0)*2^(t)`

When t = 2.5 hrs = 2.5 (60) = 150 minutes

So every 10 minutes t = 150/10 = 15

Now substitute t = 15 minutes and
`x_(0)` = 1, we get

`x = 1*2^(15)`

x = 32,768 bacteria