Question

Suppose that the number of bacteria in a certain population increases according to a continuous exponential growth model. a sample of 1200 bacteria selected from this population reached the size of 1292 bacteria in two and a half hours. find the hourly growth rate parameter.

Answer 1

To find the growth rate of anything, you plug the numbers into this equation:
(present)-(past)/(past). 

1292(present)-1200(past)/1200(past)= 23/300=.07

The hourly growth rate is 7%