Question

MEDAL

Answer 1

Can you explain?

Answer 2

I will try my best to understand if only you can post your method. I wish to understand on how I can solve this problem.

Answer 3

@ganeshie8

Answer 4

@hartnn

Answer 5

after 20 min
a--->2a
after 20 min
2a--->4a
so
after4 hours = 4*3 (20min)
\[a \times 2^{12}=4096 a\]

Answer 6

"each" microbes means A =1
so u just need 'n' now
how many '20 minutes' interval are there in 4 hrs ?

Answer 7

"population of only one microbe"
thats why A=1

Answer 8

The difficulty that I have is when it says about A being the initial size of the population. What does that mean?

Answer 9

initial population means how many microbes are taken into consideration before reproduction process starts

Answer 10

So what would I put for A?

Answer 11

"population of only one microbe"
thats why A=1

Answer 12

Doesn't this have a repetition of like 12 more times then? Or something else?

Answer 13

in 4 hours?
since they reproduce every 20 minutes, in 4 hours, they will reproduce 12 times.
thats why n=12
now you have everything you need to use the formula given.

Answer 14

Yes I was talking for 4 hours. Anyway, will the formula be like:
\[P=12 \times 2^{12}\]
@hartnn

Answer 15

A =1, not 12

Answer 16

Okay. Makes more sense now. This is because the first size was 1 right? But would the new formula be like:
\[P= 1 \times 2^{12}\]

Answer 17

Which \[P=4096\]

Answer 18

yes, correct.
initial means only at the beginning, not at every interval ...

Answer 19

Thank you @hartnn . You are a really good teacher. If I need more help, may I ask you?

Answer 20

sure, no problem :)
welcome ^_^