Question

The number of students where strep throat is at Belton High doubles every week during the Fall semester. If 5 people were infected at the beginning of the semester, which of the following equations represents the number of students who contracted strep throat after x weeks?

A) y = 5(0.02)^x
B) y = 2(5^x)
C) y = 5(2^x)
D) y = 5(3^x)

Answer 1

The correct equation that represents the number of students with strep throat after x weeks is y = 5(2^x), which exhibits exponential growth with a starting value of 5 and a doubling rate each week.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves an exponential growth model where the number of students infected with strep throat doubles every week. Starting with 5 people initially infected, the mathematical model representing this growth after x weeks is y = 5(2^x). This matches option C, which correctly applies the principle of exponential growth, where the initial quantity multiplies by a constant factor (in this case, 2) to the power of time passed, x.