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A culture of bacteria has an initial population of 43,000 bacteria and doubles every 5 hours. Using the formula [tex]$P_t = P_0 \cdot 2^{\frac{t}{d}}$[/tex], where:

- [tex]$P_t$[/tex] is the population after [tex]$t$[/tex] hours
- [tex]$P_0$[/tex] is the initial population
- [tex]$t$[/tex] is the time in hours
- [tex]$d$[/tex] is the doubling time

What is the population of bacteria in the culture after 13 hours, to the nearest whole number?

Answer :

To find the population of bacteria after 13 hours, given that the initial population is 43,000 and it doubles every 5 hours, we can use the formula:

[tex]\[ P_t = P_0 \cdot 2^{\frac{t}{d}} \][/tex]

where:
- [tex]\( P_t \)[/tex] is the population after [tex]\( t \)[/tex] hours,
- [tex]\( P_0 \)[/tex] is the initial population,
- [tex]\( t \)[/tex] is the time in hours,
- [tex]\( d \)[/tex] is the doubling time in hours.

Now, let's plug in the values:

- [tex]\( P_0 = 43,000 \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( t = 13 \)[/tex] hours,
- [tex]\( d = 5 \)[/tex] hours.

Substitute these values into the formula:

[tex]\[ P_t = 43,000 \cdot 2^{\frac{13}{5}} \][/tex]

First, calculate the exponent [tex]\(\frac{13}{5}\)[/tex]:

[tex]\(\frac{13}{5} = 2.6\)[/tex]

Now, calculate [tex]\(2^{2.6}\)[/tex]:

[tex]\(2^{2.6} \approx 6.305\)[/tex]

Next, multiply the initial population by this result:

[tex]\[ P_t \approx 43,000 \cdot 6.305 \][/tex]

[tex]\[ P_t \approx 271,115.0\][/tex]

Round this to the nearest whole number:

So, the population of bacteria in the culture after 13 hours is approximately 260,703 bacteria.

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