A biologist observes a population of 800 bacteria that doubles every 3 hours. How many bacteria are present after 15 hours?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:22:39 +0000

Title: How Bacterial Populations Grow: A Biologist’s Insight into Exponential Growth Over 15 Hours When studying microbial populations, one key concept biologists observe is exponential growth. A fascinating example involves a bacterial colony starting with 800 cells that doubles every 3 hours. Understanding how many bacteria emerge after 15 hours reveals powerful principles of population dynamics. ### The Doubling Pattern of Bacteria In this study, a biologist begins monitoring a bacterial population of 800 cells. Since the population doubles every 3 hours, the growth follows a clear pattern: