Question

The number of bacteria present in a colony is 180 at 12 noon and the bacteria grows at a rate of 22% per hour. How many will be present at 8 p.m. ?

Equation:
Solution:

Answer 1

now 12 noon to 8 pm is 8 hours in total, every hour you've increased your bacteria population by 22%
if you start with population P
after 1 hour we have P*(1+0.22)
after 2 hours we have P*(1+0.22)^2
after 8 hours we have P*(1+0.22)^8
therefore since we started with population 180 at 12 noon we have
at 8 pm, 180*(1+0.22)^2