Question

The relative growth rate for a certain type of fungi is 70% per hour. A small culture has formed and in just 6 hours the count shows to be 54,273 fungi in the culture. What is the initial number of fungi in the culture?

Answer 1

We are given with

relative growth rate = 70%

time = 6 hours

count after 6 hours = 54273

And we are asked to fine the initial number of fungi. We use the equation:

54273 = Ao (1.7)^6

Solving for Ao

Ao = 2248

The initial number of fungi is 2248.

Answer 2

Growing by 70% means the population is multiplied by 1.7. If the initial population is x, then x*(1.7)^6=54273 fungi. Dividing both sides by 1.7^6 gets us that x = 2248.486, or that there were roughly 2248 fungi initially.