Question

Suppose that the number of bacteria in a certain population increases according to a continuous exponential growth model. A sample of 1800 bacteria selected from this population reached the size of 2016 bacteria in two and a half hours. Find the hourly growth rate parameter.

Answer 1

so

number = a e^(kt)

2272 = 1800 e^(5k)

1.26222... = e^5k

ln 1.26222... = 5k

k = .04657.. <----- your hourly growth parameter

the instantaneous rate of growth is appr 4.657% per hour.