Question 207198: a computer is infected with the sasser virus. Assume that it infects 20 other computers within 5 minutes: and that these PCs and servers each infect 20 more machines within another 5 minutes, etc. How long until 100 million computers are effected? Thank you for your help!!!
Answer by Theo(13342)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 5 minutes to infect 20 others = 20^1
another 5 minutes to infect 20 * 20 = 20^2
another 5 minutes to infect 20 * 20 * 20 = 20^3
another 5 minutes to infect 20 * 20 * 20 * 20 = 20^4
etc.
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the exponent tells you the number of 5 minute intervals.
20^4 = 4 * 5 = 20 minutes.
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your equation will be:
20^x = 100,000,000
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log(20^x) = log(100,000,000)
x * log(20) = log(100,000,000)
x = log(100,000,000)/log(20) = 6.148974295
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number of minutes it takes is 6.148974295 * 5 = 30.74487147 minutes.
20^6.148974295 = 100,000,000
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i checked the method out and it appears to be accurate so i'm reasonably confident the answer i provided you is a good answer.
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