A culture of bacteria has an initial population of 560 bacteria and
doubles every 10 hours. Using the formula , where is the
population after hours, is the initial population, is the time in
hours and is the doubling time, what is the population of bacteria in the
culture after 11 hours, to the nearest whole number?

To find the population of bacteria after 11 hours, we can use the formula .

Given:

Now, plug in the values:

First, calculate . Now, is approximately .

Now multiply:

Rounding to the nearest whole number, the population after 11 hours is approximately 1161 bacteria.

For some historical context, did you know that bacteria can double their numbers in remarkably short time frames? Back in the 19th century, scientists like Louis Pasteur started to unlock the secrets of microbial growth, leading to significant advancements in fields such as medicine and fermentation. This foundational research is still relevant as we explore bacteria for applications in biotech, environmental science, and even food production!

If you’re looking to dive deeper into this topic, a great resource is “Bacteria: A Very Short Introduction” by Benjamin Lugmeier. This book presents a succinct yet thorough overview of bacteria, their role in ecosystems, and their impact on human health. It’s packed with fascinating details that will give you a broader understanding of these tiny organisms that play huge roles in our world. Happy reading!