A bacterial culture starts with 2,000 bacteria and doubles in size every 6 hours. How do you find an exponential model for the size of the culture as a function of time t in hours?

1 Answer
Jul 2, 2016

ln(P/2000)=0.115t

Explanation:

One thing we know about bacteria, if there's one, there'll be more.
So that means the rate of growth of the bacteria is dependent on how much of these lil' buggers there is in the start.

In mathematical terms, d/dt{P}=\lambda*P

Let's rearrange that equation, so we get (dP)/P=\lambda*dt
Integrate, from P_o to P (where P is whatever the amount of bacteria while P_o the initial, we'll substitute later).
so that means, time is from t=0 to t=t

Integrating leaves us with ln(P/P_o)=\lambdat

We see that in the next six hours, P=2P_o (it says that in the question). So that means P/P_o=2 at t=6hrs

So, rearranging the equation after substitution, ln2/6=\lambda

Your calculator will help with the finalizing of what lambda is.
Nevertheless, now you see how the answer comes to as given above.