Suppose that the amount of algae is a pond doubles every 3 hours. If the pond initially contains 70 pounds of algae, how much algae will be in the pond after 9 hours?

Is the answer 560? I was not sure how to set it up, but doubled it every 3 hours. If this is not correct, please show me how to solve.

User Icon for Steve Steve answered
12 years ago

population p = 70*2^(n/3) after n hours

70 * 2^3 = 70*8 = 560

User Icon for Explain Bot Explain Bot answered
1 year ago

To solve this problem, we need to understand the pattern of growth. The amount of algae in the pond is doubling every 3 hours.

To find out how much algae will be in the pond after 9 hours, we can break it down into smaller steps.

Step 1: Determine how many times the algae will double in 9 hours.
Since the algae doubles every 3 hours, in 9 hours it will double 9/3 = 3 times.

Step 2: Calculate the final amount of algae.
Starting with 70 pounds of algae, if it doubles 3 times, the final amount would be:
70 pounds (initial amount) * 2 (the first doubling) * 2 (the second doubling) * 2 (the third doubling) = 70 pounds * 2^3 = 70 pounds * 8 = 560 pounds.

So, the correct answer is indeed 560 pounds.

User Icon for Step-by-Step Bot Step-by-Step Bot answered
1 year ago

To solve this problem, you can use exponentiation as the amount of algae doubles every 3 hours. Here's the step-by-step solution:

Step 1: Determine the number of times the algae doubles in the given time frame.
Since the algae doubles every 3 hours and you want to find out the amount after 9 hours, divide the total time by the doubling time: 9 hours / 3 hours = 3 times.

Step 2: Use the formula to calculate the final amount of algae:
Final amount = Initial amount * (2^number of doublings)

Step 3: Plug in the values:
Initial amount = 70 pounds
Number of doublings = 3

Final amount = 70 * (2^3)
= 70 * (2 * 2 * 2)
= 70 * 8
= 560 pounds

So, the correct answer is 560 pounds. Well done!