- #1
Jacobpm64
- 239
- 0
We're on the section of logarithms, so I'm guessing this has something to do with them...
If the size of a bacteria colony doubles in 5 hours, how long will it take for the number of bacteria to triple?
I know that doubling time and all that stuff is independent of the amount of something you have...
Should I use P = P0at or P = P0ekt ?
I'll just try it both ways to show some work, but I don't know which equation i'd be using...
first with P = P0at
2 = 1a5
2 = a5
a = 21/5
a = 1.1487
3 = (1.1487)t
ln3 = tln(1.1487)
t = ln3 / ln1.1487
t = 7.92473 hours
Now, to try using P = P0ekt
2 = 1e5k
2 = e5k
ln2 = 5k
k = ln2 / 5
k = .138629
3 = 1e.138629t
3 = e.138629t
ln3 = .138629t
t = ln3 / .138629
t = 7.92484 hours
very close answers, which one equation should i have used, and is the answer right?
If the size of a bacteria colony doubles in 5 hours, how long will it take for the number of bacteria to triple?
I know that doubling time and all that stuff is independent of the amount of something you have...
Should I use P = P0at or P = P0ekt ?
I'll just try it both ways to show some work, but I don't know which equation i'd be using...
first with P = P0at
2 = 1a5
2 = a5
a = 21/5
a = 1.1487
3 = (1.1487)t
ln3 = tln(1.1487)
t = ln3 / ln1.1487
t = 7.92473 hours
Now, to try using P = P0ekt
2 = 1e5k
2 = e5k
ln2 = 5k
k = ln2 / 5
k = .138629
3 = 1e.138629t
3 = e.138629t
ln3 = .138629t
t = ln3 / .138629
t = 7.92484 hours
very close answers, which one equation should i have used, and is the answer right?