Mitosis is a process of cell reproduction in which one cell divides into two identical cells. A bacterium called E. coli often causes serious food poisoning. It can reproduce itself in 15 minutes.

Question

a) Starting with one bacterium, make a table with time in 1/4 -h blocks and the corresponding number of E. coli

b) Make a scatter plot from the table of data.

c) What conclusions can you make from examining the table and scatter plot?

d) About how long will it take before there are 10,000 bacteria?

PLEASE ANSWER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO CALCULATE THE LAST PART (D). I DID EVERYTHING ELSE.

AT 195 MINS. = 8192
AT 210 MINS. = 16,384
HOW DO I CALCULATE THE APPROX. TIME WHEN BACTERIA IS MULTIPLIED TO 10,000.

THANK YOU!!!

Answer 1

after t minutes, there are 2^(t/15) bacteria. So, find t when

2^(t/15) = 10000
t/15 log2 = log10000
t = 15 * (log10000/log2)

Answer 2

Thanks for answering my question! By the way what is that sort of question called? Could you write the answer if you know it on my question page where you previously answered!

Answer 3

it's a problem in exponential growth

similar ones in exponential decay are things like radiocarbon dating, where the amount of carbon-14 diminishes each year by a certain small percentage.

Answer 4

Mitosis is a process of cell reproduction in which one cell divides into two identical cells. A bacterium called E. coli often causes serious food poisoning. It can reproduce itself in 15 minutes. a) Starting with one bacterium, make a table with time in 1/4 -h blocks and the corresponding number of E. coli b) Make a scatter plot from the table of data. c) What conclusions can you make from examining the table and scatter plot? d) About how long will it take before there are 10,000 bacteria? answer