Question

Newly planted seedlings approximately double their weight every week. If a seedling weighing 5 grams is planted at time t=0 weeks, which equation best describes its weight, W, during the first few weeks of its life?

Answer 1

`W(t)=5(2^t)`

Explanation:

Given that the Newly planted seedlings approximately double their weight every week and a seedling weighing 5 grams is planted at time t = 0 weeks. This represent an exponential function with an equation in the form:

`W(t)=ab^t`.

W(t) is the weight in t weeks, t is the weeks and a is the weight when t = 0. At t = 0, W = 5 g:

`W(t)=ab^t\\W(0)=ab^0\\5=ab^0\\a=5`

Since the weight double every week, b = 2. The exponential function is given as:

`W(t)=ab^t\\\\W(t)=5(2^t)`