Question

A certain species of virulent bacteria is being grown in a culture. It is observed that the rate of growth of the bacterial population is proportional to the number present. If there were 3000 bacteria in the initial polulation and the number doubled after the first 60 minutes, how many bacteria will be present after 2 hours

Answer 1

12000 bacteria

Explanation:

Recall that

60 minutes = 1 hour

Given that the rate of growth of the bacterial population is proportional to the number present.

If there were 3000 bacteria in the initial population and the number doubled after the first 60 minutes

Then after 60 minutes, the number of bacteria present would be

= 3000 * 2

= 6000

In another 60 minutes, the number would have doubled again, thus the number present then would be

= 6000 * 2

= 12000

Hence after 120 minutes, the number of bacteria present is 12000. 120 minutes is same as 2 hours