A certain population of bacteria doubles in size every 3 weeks. If its initial population is N0, and it is allowed to grow for w weeds, in terms of N0 and w, what will its population be at the end of w weeks?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Answer is Pop=N0x2^w/3, but how do you get it?

anonymous · Answer

You multiply by 2 every time the population doubles. After w weeks, the population has doubled w/3 times since it doubles every 3 weeks. Thus you multiply the initial population by 2, w/3 times. Hence $$N_0\times 2^\frac{ w }{ 3 }$$

anonymous · Answer

Why is it 2, and not e?