Question

A culture started with 3000 bacteria. After 2 hours it grew to 3300 bacteria. Predict how many bacteria will be present after 16 hours. Round your answer to the nearest whole number.

Answer 1

Answer:

$6,430\ bacteria$

Step-by-step explanation:

we have a exponential function of the form

$y=a(1+r)^{x}$

where

y is the population of bacteria

a is the initial value

r is the rate of growth

x is the number of hours

we have

a=3,000 bacteria

$y=3,000(1+r)^{x}$

For x=2, y=3,300

substitute

$3,300=3,000(1+r)^{2}$

$(3,300/3,000)=(1+r)^{2}$

Apply square root both sides

$1+r=\sqrt{3.3/3}$

$r=\sqrt{3.3/3}-1$

$r=0.0488$

$r=4.88\%$

substitute in the equation

$y=3,000(1+0.0488)^{x}$

$y=3,000(1.0488)^{x}$

Predict how many bacteria will be present after 16 hours

For x=16 hours

substitute

$y=3,000(1.0488)^{16}$

$y=6,430\ bacteria$