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Four hours from now, the population of a colony of bacteria
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02 Jul 2020, 08:39
02 Jul 2020, 08:39
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Question Stats:
51% (01:23) correct
48% (01:31) wrong based on 39 sessions
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Four hours from now, the population of a colony of bacteria will reach 1.28 * \(10 ^ 6\). If the population of the colony doubles every 4 hours, what was the population 12 hours ago?
A. 6.4 * \(10 ^ 2\)
B. 8.0 * \(10 ^ 4\)
C. 1.6 * \(10 ^ 5\)
D. 3.2 * \(10 ^ 5\)
E. 8.0 * \(10 ^ 6\)
A. 6.4 * \(10 ^ 2\)
B. 8.0 * \(10 ^ 4\)
C. 1.6 * \(10 ^ 5\)
D. 3.2 * \(10 ^ 5\)
E. 8.0 * \(10 ^ 6\)
Re: Four hours from now, the population of a colony of bacteria
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02 Jul 2020, 08:39
02 Jul 2020, 08:39
Expert Reply
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Re: Four hours from now, the population of a colony of bacteria
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02 Jul 2020, 09:43
02 Jul 2020, 09:43
[quote="Carcass"]Four hours from now, the population of a colony of bacteria will reach 1.28 * \(10 ^ 6\). If the population of the colony doubles every 4 hours, what was the population 12 hours ago?
A. 6.4 * \(10 ^ 2\)
B. 8.0 * \(10 ^ 4\)
C. 1.6 * \(10 ^ 5\)
D. 3.2 * \(10 ^ 5\)
E. 8.0 * \(10 ^ 6\)[/quote
Let's work backwards.
Population 4 hours in future: 1.28 x 10^6
Population now: 0.64 x 10^6 (half the population 4 hours in future)
Population 4 hours ago: 0.32 x 10^6 (half the current population)
Population 8 hours ago: 0.16 x 10^6 (half the population 4 hours ago)
Population 12 hours ago: 0.08 x 10^6 (half the population 8 hours ago)
Now check the answer choices.
Only answer choices B and E have the same format with 8 times some power of 10
Answer choice E definitely doesn't match, so the correct answer must be B
For any doubters out there, notice that:
0.08 x 10^6 = (8.0) x (10^-2) x 10^6
= 8.0 x 10^4
Answer: B
A. 6.4 * \(10 ^ 2\)
B. 8.0 * \(10 ^ 4\)
C. 1.6 * \(10 ^ 5\)
D. 3.2 * \(10 ^ 5\)
E. 8.0 * \(10 ^ 6\)[/quote
Let's work backwards.
Population 4 hours in future: 1.28 x 10^6
Population now: 0.64 x 10^6 (half the population 4 hours in future)
Population 4 hours ago: 0.32 x 10^6 (half the current population)
Population 8 hours ago: 0.16 x 10^6 (half the population 4 hours ago)
Population 12 hours ago: 0.08 x 10^6 (half the population 8 hours ago)
Now check the answer choices.
Only answer choices B and E have the same format with 8 times some power of 10
Answer choice E definitely doesn't match, so the correct answer must be B
For any doubters out there, notice that:
0.08 x 10^6 = (8.0) x (10^-2) x 10^6
= 8.0 x 10^4
Answer: B
