Answer:
The number of bacteria at initial = 187
Step-by-step explanation:
Given that the population of bacteria in a culture grows at a rate proportional to the number of bacteria present at time t.
Integrating both side we get
㏑ N = k t + C ------- (1)
Now given that after 3 hours it is observed that 500 bacteria are present and after 10 hours 5000 bacteria are present.
⇒ ㏑ 500 = 3 k + C -------- (2)
⇒ ㏑ 5000 = 10 k + C ------ (3)
⇒ ㏑ 5000 - ㏑ 500 = 7 k
⇒ ㏑ = 7 k
⇒ ㏑ 10 = 7 k
⇒ k = 0.329
Put this value of k in equation (2),
⇒ ㏑ 500 = 3 × 0.329 + C
⇒ C = 5.23
Put this value of C in equation 1 we get,
⇒ ㏑ N = k t + 5.23
Initially when t = 0 , then
⇒ ㏑ N = 5.23
⇒ N = 187
Thus the number of bacteria at initial = 187