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A population of a certain bacteria grows according to the following explicit formula: y = 5 (3^x), where y is the population after a period of time x.

- What does the 3 represent in this context?
- What does the 5 represent in this context?

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Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 498 • Replies: 5

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5 = initial population

3 = rate at which population increases per time frame

in this case each time frame the population triples

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ohnono wrote:

5 = initial population

Actually, the initial population (x = 0) is 1, not 5.

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Then what does the 5 represent?

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Brandon9000 wrote:

ohnono wrote:
5 = initial population

Actually, the initial population (x = 0) is 1, not 5.

How do you figure?

5*3^0 = 5

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markr wrote:

Brandon9000 wrote:
ohnono wrote:
5 = initial population

Actually, the initial population (x = 0) is 1, not 5.

How do you figure?

5*3^0 = 5

Okay, sorry, I thought it read 5^(3*x). In that case we would have had:
5^(3*0) = 5^0 = 1.

However, since it actually reads 5(3^x) denoting multiplication, we have 5 x (3^0) = 5 x 1 = 5.

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