Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Exponential Growth
Exponential growth occurs when a quantity increases at a rate proportional to its current value. In this context, the bacteria population doubles every 12 hours, which can be modeled by an exponential function. This type of growth is characterized by a rapid increase, leading to large populations over time, and is commonly represented mathematically as p(t) = p0 * e^(kt), where p0 is the initial amount, k is the growth rate, and t is time.
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Population Function
The population function p(t) = 150 * 2^(t/12) describes the number of bacteria at time t, where 150 is the initial population and the factor 2^(t/12) accounts for the doubling every 12 hours. Understanding this function is crucial for determining how long it takes for the population to reach a specific size, such as 10,000 cells. This function illustrates how the population grows over time based on the initial conditions and growth rate.
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Solving Exponential Equations
To find the time it takes for the population to reach 10,000 cells, one must solve the equation 10,000 = 150 * 2^(t/12). This involves isolating the exponential term and applying logarithms to both sides to solve for t. Mastery of solving exponential equations is essential in calculus, as it allows for the determination of time or other variables in growth models, which is a common application in biological and economic contexts.
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