10.6k views
5 votes
This exercise uses the population growth model. The count in a culture of bacteria was 400 after 2 hours and 25,600 after 6 hours. Find the number of bacteria after 4.5 hours.

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

To find the number of bacteria after 4.5 hours, use the population growth model. The approximate number of bacteria after 4.5 hours is 40,960.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the number of bacteria after 4.5 hours, we can use the population growth model. Let's first determine the growth factor by dividing the population at 6 hours (25,600) by the population at 2 hours (400). This gives us a growth factor of 64 (25,600 / 400 = 64).

Next, we can use the growth factor to find the population after 4.5 hours. Starting with the population at 2 hours (400), we multiply it by the growth factor raised to the power of the time difference in hours (4.5 - 2 = 2.5). So the calculation is: 400 * (64 ^ 2.5).

Using a calculator, we find that the approximate number of bacteria after 4.5 hours is 40,960.

User Terry Li
by
7.9k points