Question

A culture of bacteria has an initial population of 8300 bacteria and

doubles every 10 hours. Using the formula Pt = P0 2^t/d, where Pt is
the population after t hours, P0 is the initial population, t is the time in
hours and d is the doubling time, what is the population of bacteria in the culture after 3 hours, to the nearest whole number?

Answer 1

The formula Pt = P0 * 2^(t/d) can be used to calculate the population of bacteria after t hours, where Pt is the population after t hours, P0 is the initial population, t is the time in hours, and d is the doubling time.

In this case, P0 = 8300 bacteria, t = 3 hours, and d = 10 hours.

So, Pt = 8300 * 2^(3/10) = 8300 * 2^(0.3)

To find the nearest whole number, we can round the answer up or down.

Using a calculator, we find that 2^(0.3) is approximately 1.344.

Therefore, Pt = 8300 * 1.344 = approximately 11,194 bacteria

So, the population of bacteria in the culture after 3 hours is approximately 11,194 bacteria, to the nearest whole number.