A species of bacteria has a population of 250 at 6 a.m. It doubles every 8 hours. Determine the function that models the growth of the population. Determine the population at 9 p.m.?

1 Answer
May 28, 2018

6 a.m. to 2 p.m. population reaches 500.

Explanation:

Your equation is

(it is exponential function)

P = P_0timese^(kt)

P_= is the initial population

t is time which is 15 hours.

First, You can compute k (growth rate)

500=250timese^(ktimes8)

2 = e^(ktimes8)

ln2 = ktimes8

k= 0.0866 (hour)^-1

Now you can calculate the final population

P=250timese^(0.0866times15)

P=917

which is greater than 500.