Example

Example 10.44: Solving an Exponential Growth Application

To determine the future size of a population that grows exponentially, first find the growth rate kk and then use it to calculate the final amount. For example, if a bacteria population grows from 100100 to 300300 in 33 hours, use the exponential growth formula A=A0ektA = A_0 e^{kt}. Substitute the known values to get 300=100ek3300 = 100 e^{k \cdot 3}. Dividing by 100100 gives 3=e3k3 = e^{3k}. Taking the natural logarithm of both sides results in ln3=3k\ln 3 = 3k, which simplifies to k=ln33k = \frac{\ln 3}{3}. To find the population after 2424 hours, substitute this rate back into the formula: A=100eln3324A = 100 e^{\frac{\ln 3}{3} \cdot 24}. Evaluating this expression yields A656,100A \approx 656{,}100. Thus, the population will be approximately 656,100656{,}100 bacteria.

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