The number of bacteria in a culture after x days is represented by the function f(x)=x4−3x2

. What function represents the average number of bacteria in the culture after x days?

Enter the missing values.

(1 point)
(fg)(x)=
$$

1 answer

To find the function that represents the average number of bacteria in the culture after \( x \) days, we need to divide the total number of bacteria \( f(x) \) over the time period. The average number of bacteria over the interval from day 0 to day \( x \) can be represented as follows:

\[ \text{Average Number of Bacteria} = \frac{1}{x} \int_0^x f(t) , dt \]

where \( f(t) = t^4 - 3t^2 \).

So, we first need to compute the integral \( \int_0^x (t^4 - 3t^2) , dt \):

  1. Compute the integral:

\[ \int (t^4 - 3t^2) , dt = \frac{t^5}{5} - t^3 + C \]

  1. Now evaluate the definite integral from 0 to \( x \):

\[ \int_0^x (t^4 - 3t^2) , dt = \left[ \frac{t^5}{5} - t^3 \right]_0^x = \left( \frac{x^5}{5} - x^3 \right) - \left( 0 - 0 \right) = \frac{x^5}{5} - x^3 \]

  1. Now plug this into the average formula:

\[ \text{Average Number of Bacteria} = \frac{1}{x} \left( \frac{x^5}{5} - x^3 \right) = \frac{x^5}{5x} - \frac{x^3}{x} = \frac{x^4}{5} - x^2 \]

Therefore, the average number of bacteria after \( x \) days is represented by the function:

\[ A(x) = \frac{x^4}{5} - x^2 \]

Thus, the final answer for \( (fg)(x) \) which typically denotes the average in this context is:

\[ (fg)(x) = \frac{x^4}{5} - x^2 \]