Q:

Algebra help needed!!The population of bacteria in a petri dish triples every 10 minutes. The population of the bacteria is initially 400 organisms.What unit is most appropriate for the time at which the number of bacteria is 600?

Accepted Solution

A:
The population triples ( P Γ— 3 ) every ten minutes...

So if ten minutes is reached there will be 1,200 bacteria.

Edited - missed the question
** The units for time should be in minutes.

P = 400 Γ— 3^(t/10)

at t = 0 ; P = 400
at t = 10 ; P = 1,200

When P = 600
600 = 400 Γ— 3^(t/10)
6/4 = 3^(t/10)
Log(3/2) = Log(3^(t/10))
power rule
Log(3/2) = (t/10) Log(3)
10 Γ— Log(3/2)/Log(3) = t

3.69 minutes the population will be at 600 bacteria
Unites for time are in minutes.