Let the initial number of bacteria be [tex] x_{0} [/tex]
Number of bacteria doubles in population every 10 minutes
After 10 minutes number of bacteria = 2[tex] x_{0} [/tex]
number of bacteria present after
t
minutes,
[tex] x = x_{0}\times2^{t} [/tex]
When t = 2.5 hrs = 2.5 (60) = 150 minutes
So every 10 minutes t = 150/10 = 15
Now substitute t = 15 minutes and [tex] x_{0} [/tex] = 1, we get
[tex] x = 1\times2^{15} [/tex]
x = 32,768 bacteria
