Final answer:
The growth of a second type of bacteria could either be faster or slower than a first type, depending on birth and death rates and other growth-influencing factors. The terms 'exponential growth' and 'growth rate' refer to the principle that a population size increases at an accelerating rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering how the growth of a second type of bacteria growing exponentially might differ from that of a first type, we must take into account various biological factors that influence growth rates. One key difference is that the second type of bacteria may have a different birth rate or death rate, affecting its exponential growth rate. It is incorrect to say that it would grow at the same rate (a), or it would not grow exponentially (d), as different bacteria can grow exponentially but at varying rates.
In the principle of exponential growth, the number of bacteria at each generation can increase substantially, assuming that the bacteria have unlimited resources and no mortality. However, the growth rates can vary due to intrinsic factors such as metabolic rates, or extrinsic factors like temperature, pH, and nutrient availability, which are species-specific. Hence, the second type of bacteria may grow faster (b), or grow slower (c) than the first type, depending on these variables.