Question the-fu

2.1 Nonlinear Functions - Exponential growth and decay functions
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The function ft=60,0002t410 gives the number of bacteria in a population t minutes after an initial observation. How much time, in minutes, does it take for the number of bacteria in the population to double?

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The function f t = 60,000 2 t 410 gives the number of bacteria in a

Hard-difficulty · SAT Math · Nonlinear Functions — Exponential growth and decay functions. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 410 . It's given that t minutes after an initial observation, the number of bacteria in a population is 60,0002t410. This expression consists of the initial number of bacteria, 60,000, multiplied by the expression 2t410. The time it takes for the number of bacteria to double is the increase in the value of t that causes the expression 2t410 to double. Since the base of the expression 2t410 is 2 , the expression 2t410 will double when the exponent increases by 1 . Since the exponent of the expression 2t410 is t410, the exponent will increase by 1 when t increases by 410 . Therefore the time, in minutes, it takes for the number of bacteria in the population to double is 410 .