document.write( "Question 1065322: The number of bacteria in a certain population increases according to a continuous exponential growth model, with a growth rate parameter of
\n" ); document.write( "8.7% per hour. How many hours does it take for the size of the sample to double?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #680487 by Theo(13342)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
continuoous growth model is f = p * e^(rt)\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( "e is the scientific constant of 2.718281828.....
\n" ); document.write( "r is the rate of growth per time period.
\n" ); document.write( "t is the number of time periods.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "in your problem:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f = 2
\n" ); document.write( "p = 1
\n" ); document.write( "r = .087 per hour.
\n" ); document.write( "t = number of hours.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "formula becomes 2 = 1 * e^(.087 * t)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "take the natural log of both sides of this equation to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(2) = ln(1 * e^(.087 * t)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "this becomes ln(2) = ln(1) + .087 * t * ln(e)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "since ln(1) = 0 and ln(e) = 1, this becomes ln(2) = .087 * t\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "solve for t to get t = ln(2) / .087 = 7.967208972\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the sample should double in 7.967208972 hours.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "replace t with 7.967208972 in your original equaiton and you get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2 = 1 * e^(.087 * 7.967208972).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "evaluate this equation to get 2 = 2\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( "note that:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ln(1) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "ln(e) = 1
\n" ); document.write( "ln(a * b^c) = ln(a) + ln(b^c) which is then equal to ln(a) + c*ln(b)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "you can use your calculator to confirm the first 2 statements are true.
\n" ); document.write( "the third statement is based on the properties of logarithms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "here's a reference that might help.
\n" ); document.write( "http://www.purplemath.com/modules/logrules.htm\r
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