Question

Bacteria can divide in every 20 minutes. So, 1 bacterium can multiply to 2 in 20
minutes. 4 in 40 minutes, and so on. How many bacteria will there be in 3 hours?
Write your answer using exponent.

Answer 1

Answer:

$2^9$ times would be bacteria after 3 hours

= 512 times

$2^9$ = 512

Step-by-step explanation:

Bacterial would be  after T minutes = Bacteria at start $\times2^{(\frac{T}{20})}$

Let say Bacteria at start = B

Bacterial would be  after T minutes = B $\times2^{(\frac{T}{20})}$

Bacterial would be  after 20 minutes = B $\times2^{(\frac{20}{20})}$ = 2B

Bacterial would be  after 40 minutes = B $\times2^{(\frac{40}{20})}$ = 4B

3 Hours = 3 * 60 mins = 180 Mins

Bacterial would be  after 180 minutes = B $\times2^{(\frac{180}{20})}$ = B $\times2^9$

$2^9$ times would be bacteria after 3 hours

if initial bacteria was 1

then bacteria after 3 hrs would be =  $2^9$ = 512