document.write( "Question 936075: how do I solve: it takes 12 hrs for a certain bacterial culture to double in size. How long will it take the same bacterial culture to triple? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #569513 by Theo(13342)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
formula is f = p * e^kt\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f is the future value
\n" ); document.write( "p is the present value
\n" ); document.write( "k is the constant of growth or decay
\n" ); document.write( "if k is positive, it is the constant of growth.
\n" ); document.write( "if k is negative, it is the constant of decay.
\n" ); document.write( "t is equal to the time interval.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "for it to double, you have the following:
\n" ); document.write( "f = 2
\n" ); document.write( "p = 1
\n" ); document.write( "t = 12 hours\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "you need to use this equation to solve for k.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "formula becomes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2 = 1 * e^(k*12)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "start with:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2 = e^(k*12)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "take the natural log of both sides of the equation to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(2) = ln(e^(k*12))\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "since ln(e^(k*12)) = k*12*ln(e), and since ln(e) = 1, you get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(2) = k * 12\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "divide both sides of this equation by 12 to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(2) / 12 = k\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "solve for k to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "k = .057762265\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "confirm by replacing k in the original equation to confirm that the equation is true.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "you get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2 = 1 * e^(.057762265*12) which becomes 2 = 2.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "this confirms the solution for k is good.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "now you can use k to solve for how long it will take the same bacterial culture to triple.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "equation now becomes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3 = 1 * e^(.057762265*t)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "you are solving for t.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "start with:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3 = e^(.057762265*t)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "take the natural log of both sides of the equation to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(3) = ln(e^(.057762265*t) which becomes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(3) = .057762265*t*ln(e) which becomes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(3) = .057762265*t\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "divide both sides of the equation by .057762265 to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(3) / .057762265 = t\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "solve for t to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "t = 19.01955001\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "confirm by replacing t in the original equation to see if that equation is true.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "original equation is 3 = 1 * e^(.057762265 * 19.01955001) which becomes 3 = 3.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "this confirms the solution is correct.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "your solution is that it will take 19.01955001 hours for the solution to triple.\r
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