In a lab, a scientist is growing bacteria for a study. The scientist begins with a bacteria population of b cells. She discovers that after 3 hours, the population of bacteria is

b2 cells. Three hours later, the bacteria population is b3 cells. If the population of the bacteria after these 6 hours is one thousand cells, what was the population at the start? Explain how you found your answer.

Question

Mathematics

Flowers

16 October, 13:18

In a lab, a scientist is growing bacteria for a study. The scientist begins with a bacteria population of b cells. She discovers that after 3 hours, the population of bacteria is

b2 cells. Three hours later, the bacteria population is b3 cells. If the population of the bacteria after these 6 hours is one thousand cells, what was the population at the start? Explain how you found your answer.

+5

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Marcus Fitzgerald · Answer 1

I think the answer is

The sixt root of 1000

Bailey Wise · Answer 2

Initial population: b=10

Step-by-step explanation:

Initil population: b

After 3 hours: b²

After 6 hours: b³

It looks like a geometric progression, with ratio b.

Now, after 6 hours: b³=1000=10³

So, initial population is b=10. Note that b is also the growing ratio.