Answer:
(a) the initial count of bacteria
(b) the growth factor (per hour)
(c) the initial count in the second study
(d) the difference in initial counts between the two studies
Step-by-step explanation:
(a) 1200 is b1(0), the initial count of bacteria.
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(b) 1.8 is the growth factor per hour, the factor that multiplies the previous hour's count to get this hour's count.
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(c) Assuming b2(t) = 1000(1.8)^t, the value 1000 is the initial count of bacteria in the second study, b2(0).
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(d) The difference between 1200 and 1000 means the first study started with 200 more bacteria than the second study did