document.write( "Question 1102431: an experimental culture has an initial population of 50 bacteria. the population increased by 80% every 20 minutes. determine the time it will take to have a population of 1.2 million bacteria. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #717128 by greenestamps(13200) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "If the population increases by 80%, it grows by a factor of 1.80. So the expression $\"50%281.80%29%5En\"$ is the population after \"n\" 20-minute periods. You want to know when the population will reach 1.2 million.

\n" ); document.write( "With the variable in the exponent, you will need to use logarithms to solve the problem.

\n" ); document.write( " $\"50%281.80%29%5En+=+1200000\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"1.80%5En+=+1200000%2F50+=+24000\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"n%2Alog%281.80%29+=+log%2824000%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"n+=+log%2824000%29%2Flog%281.80%29+=+17.159\"$

\n" ); document.write( " $\"17.159%2A20+=+343\"$ to the nearest whole number.

\n" ); document.write( "The population of bacteria will reach 1.2 million after about 343 minutes. \n" ); document.write( "

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