Question

A bacteria triples every hour. A population of 150 bacteria were placed in a jar [2 a) Create an equation for this situation. [2 b) How much bacteria will there be after 12 hours?

Answer 1

5400

Explanation:

To form an equation we need to replace the words by letters, let's just use x and y for this.

Let hour = y and bacteria = x

1 hour = 3 bacteria

So this can be written as:

(a) y = 3x

Now we're told that there are 150 bacteria.

Bacteria = 150 and, x will be as well.

(b) x = 150

y = 3x = 3(150) = 450

y = 3x = 3(150) = 450 12y = 450 × 12 = 5400

y = 3x = 3(150) = 450 12y = 450 × 12 = 540013 hours = 5400 bacteria