Question

A bacteria culture contains 1500 bacteria initially and doubles every hour. Find a function N that models the number of bacteria after t hours. Write out how many bacteria there will be for t = 0, 1, 2, etc. and think about how you are getting those values.

Answer 1

Answer: N(t) = (2^t)*1500

Explanation:

Let's define the hour "zero" as the initial population.

So if N(t) is the number of bacteria after t hours, then:

N(0) = 1500.

Now, we know that the population doubles every hour, so we will have that after one hour, at t = 1

N(1) = 2*1500 = 3000

after two hours, at t = 2.

N(2) = 2*(2*1500) = (2^2)*1500

After three hours, at t = 3

N(3) = 2*(2^2)*1500 = (2^3)*1500

So we already can see the pattern, the number of bacteria after t hours will be:

N(t) = (2^t)*1500