A type of bacteria doubles in number every 12 hours. After 2 days, there are 48 bacteria. How many bacteria were there at the beginning of the first day.

Answer 1

2 days is 4 doublings, or 16 times the original amount.

So, there were 3 to begin.

Answer 2

Thank you Steve.
But I want to know how to show it.
Thanks once again

Answer 3

every 12 hours, the population doubles. So, if it starts out as p, then after t hours, we have

p*2^(t/12)

for t=48, then,

p*2^(48/12) = 48
p*2^4 = 48
16p = 48
p = 3