SOLUTION: A biologist finds that the population of a certain type of bacteria doubles each half-hour. An initial culture has 120 bacteria. How long will it take for the number of bacteria t

Algebra ->  Rate-of-work-word-problems -> SOLUTION: A biologist finds that the population of a certain type of bacteria doubles each half-hour. An initial culture has 120 bacteria. How long will it take for the number of bacteria t      Log On


   



Question 387792: A biologist finds that the population of a certain type of bacteria doubles each half-hour. An initial culture has 120 bacteria.
How long will it take for the number of bacteria to reach 122,880?

Answer by robertb(5830) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
P%28t%29+=+120%2A2%5E%28t%2F30%29, assuming t is in hours.
122880+=+120%2A2%5E%28t%2F30%29,
1024+=+2%5E%28t%2F30%29,
ln1024+=+%28ln2%29t%2F30
t+=+30ln1024%2Fln2+=+300 hours.