Under ideal conditions a certain bacteria population is known to double every 2 hours. Suppose there are initially 200 bacteria. What is the size of the population after t hours?

Question

Under ideal conditions a certain bacteria population is known to double every 2 hours. Suppose there are initially 200 bacteria.  What is the size of the population after t hours?

anonymous · Answer

@Hero

wolf1728 · Answer

Actually, after 6 hours population = 1,600

wolf1728 · Answer

Yes, I was working on a formula to :-(
Seems we lost Hero?

anonymous · Answer

i know the 6 hours already but i need the formula

anonymous · Answer

it says its wrong

wolf1728 · Answer

No because after 2 hours population = 200 * 2² = 400?
But problem states population = 200

wolf1728 · Answer

2 Hours Population = 200 * 2^0 
4 Hours Population = 200 * 2^1
6 Hours Population = 200 * 2^2
8 Hours Population = 200 * 2^3

wolf1728 · Answer

Population = 200 * 2^((t-2)/2) ???

anonymous · Answer

no thats not it either

wolf1728 · Answer

You're right muzz
I thought this was going to be easy.

wolf1728 · Answer

After 4 hours (4-2/2) = 2
Raising that to the power of 2 is 4 times 200 = 800
no

wolf1728 · Answer

2 4 6 8
0 1 2 3

Population = 200 * 2^((t-2)/t)  ???

wolf1728 · Answer

No that doesn't work for 4

hero · Answer

x|y 0|200 <200*2^0> 2|400 <200*2^1> 4|800 <200*2^2> 6|1600 <200*2^3>

hero · Answer

200^(t/2)

wolf1728 · Answer

2 4 6 8 
0 1 2 3

No it can't be 200^(t/2)

anonymous · Answer

thanks @Hero

anonymous · Answer

Estimate the size of the population after 19 hours. i got 154,000. whats wrong

wolf1728 · Answer

muzz you think 200^(t/2) is the answer?

wolf1728 · Answer

I thhink that formula is wrong

hero · Answer

It's right. I'm pretty sure @muzzammil.raza inputs his answers into some computer program that verifies the correct answer.

anonymous · Answer

no the homework is online

anonymous · Answer

it tells u if u r right or wrong. u have a week to finish it

anonymous · Answer

Estimate the size of the population after 19 hours. i got 154,000. whats wrong

wolf1728 · Answer

200 * 2^0 = 2 hours
200 * 2^1 = 4 hours
200 * 2^2 = 6 hours
200 * 2^3 = 8 hours
Just have to figure out a formula for this.

hero · Answer

That online homework that tells you if you are right or wrong is the computer program I'm referring to @muzzammil.raza

hero · Answer

We already figured out the formula. x|y 0|200 <200*2^0> 2|400 <200*2^1> 4|800 <200*2^2> 6|1600 <200*2^3> 8|3200 < 200*2^4>

hero · Answer

@wolf1728, his program verified that 200^(t/2) is correct.

wolf1728 · Answer

200 * 2^(19/2)
200 * 2^9.5
Ppopulation after 19 hours = 200 * 724.077343935
= 144,815.468787005

anonymous · Answer

thanks

wolf1728 · Answer

200 ^ (t/2) is correct??
then after 8 hours population is 200^4??
=1,600,000,000
After 8 hours it is 1,600

hero · Answer

yeah, it was 200*2^(t/2) sorry

hero · Answer

This is clearly my biggest screw up of the day.

wolf1728 · Answer

Yeah Hero I'm surprised at myself too.
I thought I'd type a formula in a few seconds.
LOL

hero · Answer

Well, as long as we figured it out. I fried a few brain cells in the process for sure.

wolf1728 · Answer

Well it is done !!!  :-)

wolf1728 · Answer

muzz is back - I sent you a message

wolf1728 · Answer

And I just got the answer - okay !