Question

Scientists studying a bacteria sample find that after starting with 120 cells, the number of cells doubles every hour.

Which of the following equations is a function that will predict C(h), the number of cells after h hours have passed?

Answer 1

`C(h)=120*2^h`

Explanation:

`C(h)=120*2^h`

Doubling needs a base of 2, and the original number will need to be multiplied by two.

I don't know how to explain so I'm going to just give an example.

After an hour the original number doubles so 120*2

After two hours: 120*2*2

After 3 hours: 120*2*2*2

2*2 can also be written as
`2^2`

and 2*2*2 can be written as
`2^3`

So the number of hours passed is the exponent, and the base is 2 because the original number is being doubled.