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| Question 640953:  A population of bacteria triples every five days. If the initial population is one thousand, then by what factor will the population have increased in the first ten days? At what time t, in days will the population have increased by a factor of 6?
 my problem is i don't know what formula to use and i don't know what a factor is :/
 Answer by josmiceli(19441)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let the initial population =  After 5 days
  After 10 days
  After 15 days
  After 20 days
  ------------------
 If n = 1,2,3,4,5, ( any whole positive number )
 After
  days, population =  ------------------
 By factor, they mean what is the multiplier?
 If
  and 
  
  
  
  ---------------
 What factor do you multiply 1000 by to get 9000 ?
 The factor is
  ---------------
 At what time t, in days will the population have increased by a factor of 6?
 
  They want days, which is
  
  
  Take the log base 10 of both sides
 
  
  
  
  
  Calculate the logs, do the division, and
 round off to the nearest day
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