Question
Salmonella bacteria grows rapidly in a nice warm place. If just a few hundred were left on a cutting board when a chicken was cut up, and they get into the potato salad, the population begins compounding. Suppose the number present in the potato salad after x hours is given by: f(x)=500(2^(3x))
a.)If the potato salad is left out on the table, how many bacteria are present 1 hour later?
b.)How many were present initially?
c.)How often do the bacteria double?
d.)How quickly will the number of bacteria increase to 32,000?
a.)If the potato salad is left out on the table, how many bacteria are present 1 hour later?
b.)How many were present initially?
c.)How often do the bacteria double?
d.)How quickly will the number of bacteria increase to 32,000?
Answers
Steve
(a) 500*2^3 = 500*8 = 4000
(b) 500*2^0 = 500*1 = 500
(c) when 3x=1 or every 1/3 hour
(d)
500*2^3x= 32000
2^3x = 32000/500 = 64
2^3x = 2^6
3x = 6
x = 2
(b) 500*2^0 = 500*1 = 500
(c) when 3x=1 or every 1/3 hour
(d)
500*2^3x= 32000
2^3x = 32000/500 = 64
2^3x = 2^6
3x = 6
x = 2