SOLUTION: The number of insects in a colony can triple in 7 weeks. After 50 weeks, how many times greater will the number of insects be than after 20 weeks?

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Question 1118382: The number of insects in a colony can triple in 7 weeks. After 50 weeks, how many times greater will the number of insects be than after 20 weeks?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39623) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%283%5E%2850%2F7%29%29%2F%283%5E%2820%2F7%29%29

(3^(50/7))/(3^(20/7))

Answer by greenestamps(13203) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


From 20 weeks to 50 weeks is 30 weeks; the number of times the number of insects triples is 30/7.

3 raised to the power (30/7) is 110.87 to 2 decimal places.

The number of insects after 50 weeks is about 111 times the number after 20 weeks.

Note the question that is asked is "how many times greater will the number of insects be than after 20 weeks". Since the phrase "how many times GREATER... THAN" is used, the correct answer is 110, because 111 times AS MANY AS is 110 times GREATER THAN.