a particular strain of bacteria doubles in population every 10 minutes. Assuming you start with a single bacterium in a petri dish, how many bacteria will there be in 2.5 hours? A. 16,384 B. 65,536 C. 32,768 D. 9536

C. 32,768

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1

Convert the number of hours to minutes

2.5 hours to minutes = 2 hrs 30 minutes to minutes is calculated as

1 hour = 60 minutes

2 hours 30 minutes =

Cross multiply

(60 minutes × 2 hours) + 30 minutes = 150 minutes.

Step 2

We are told in the question that the bacteria population doubles every 10 minute interval

Find the number of intervals in 150 minutes

= 150 minutes / 10 minutes interval

= 15 intervals

Step 3

The number of bacteria present after 2.5 hours is calculated using the formula of

= Amount of bacterium × 2ⁿ

Where n = number of intervals = 15

Amount of bacterium = single bacterium = 1

Number of bacteria = 1 × 2¹⁵

= 32,768

Therefore, when you start with a single bacterium in a petri dish, the number of bacteria that will there be in 2.5 hours is 32,768

1 and 2

step-by-step explanation: