Question

A culture of bacteria has an initial population of 15000 bacteria and doubles every 3 hours. Using the formula P_t = P_0\cdot 2^{\frac{t}{d}}P t ​ =P 0 ​ ⋅2 d t ​ , where P_tP t ​ is the population after t hours, P_0P 0 ​ is the initial population, t is the time in hours and d is the doubling time, what is the population of bacteria in the culture after 20 hours, to the nearest whole number?

Answer 1

1523905

Explanation:

Given the function

P(t) = P0 * 2^t/d

P0 = 15000 ; d = 3.; t = 20

P(20) = 15000 * 2^20/3

P(20) = 15000 * 2^6.66666

P(20) = 15000 * 101.59366

P(20) = 1523905.0

P(20) = 1523905