The doubling period of a bacterial population is 20 minutes. At time [tex][tex]$t = 100$[/tex][/tex] minutes, the bacterial population was 60,000. Round your answers to the nearest bacteria.

1. What was the initial population at time [tex][tex]$t = 0$[/tex][/tex]? [tex]$\square$[/tex]
2. Find the size of the bacterial population after 4 hours. [tex]$\square$[/tex]



Answer :

To solve this problem, we need to use the information about the bacterial growth, which doubles every 20 minutes. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Finding the Initial Population at Time [tex]\( t = 0 \)[/tex]

1. Identify the Known Values:
- Doubling period: 20 minutes
- Given time (t): 100 minutes
- Bacterial population at [tex]\( t = 100 \)[/tex] minutes: 60,000

2. Calculate the Number of Doublings from [tex]\( t = 0 \)[/tex] to [tex]\( t = 100 \)[/tex]:
Since the doubling period is 20 minutes, the number of doublings that occur in 100 minutes is calculated as:
[tex]\[ \text{Number of doublings} = \frac{100 \text{ minutes}}{20 \text{ minutes/doubling}} = 5 \][/tex]

3. Determine the Initial Population Using the Doubling Formula:
The relationship between the initial population (P0) and the population at time [tex]\( t = 100 \)[/tex] minutes (P100) can be described by the formula:
[tex]\[ P_{100} = P_0 \times (2^{\text{Number of doublings}}) \][/tex]
Rearranging this formula to solve for [tex]\( P_0 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ P_0 = \frac{P_{100}}{2^{\text{Number of doublings}}} \][/tex]

4. Plug in the Known Values:
[tex]\[ P_0 = \frac{60,000}{2^5} = \frac{60,000}{32} = 1,875 \][/tex]

Thus, the initial population at [tex]\( t = 0 \)[/tex] is 1,875 bacteria.

### Step 2: Finding the Bacterial Population After 4 Hours

1. Convert the Time After 4 Hours to Minutes:
[tex]\[ 4 \text{ hours} = 4 \times 60 \text{ minutes} = 240 \text{ minutes} \][/tex]

2. Calculate the Total Time After 4 Hours from [tex]\( t = 100 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \text{Total time} = 100 \text{ minutes} + 240 \text{ minutes} = 340 \text{ minutes} \][/tex]

3. Find the Number of Doublings from [tex]\( t = 100 \)[/tex] to [tex]\( t = 340 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \text{Number of doublings} = \frac{240 \text{ minutes}}{20 \text{ minutes/doubling}} = 12 \][/tex]

4. Calculate the Population After 4 Hours:
Using the population at [tex]\( t = 100 \)[/tex] minutes as our starting point, and knowing it will double 12 times:
[tex]\[ \text{Population after 4 hours} = 60,000 \times (2^{12}) \][/tex]

5. Compute the Final Population:
[tex]\[ 60,000 \times 2^{12} = 60,000 \times 4,096 = 245,760,000 \][/tex]

Thus, the population after 4 hours is 245,760,000 bacteria.

### Summary:

- The initial population at [tex]\( t = 0 \)[/tex] is 1,875 bacteria.
- The bacterial population after 4 hours is 245,760,000 bacteria.

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