Question

Strep throat is caused by Streptococcus bacteria. The amount of bacteria multiplies at a rate of 10^13 per 10^2 hrs.
What is the average growth of bacteria per hour??

Answer 1

Bacteria multiplies at a rate of $10^{13}$ per $10^{2}$ hours.

In extended form, we get:

Rate of 10000000000000 per 100 hours.

Then for 1 hour, we only divide 10000000000000 by 100.

Thus we get that the average growth of bacteria per hour is 100000000000, or when writing it in exponential terms, $10^{11}$.

Answer 2

given
rate=10^13
time=10^2 hours

average per hour=rate/time
to make this less messy, use exponent rules

remember:
$\frac{x^m}{x^n}=x^{m-n}$ where x=x

so

$\frac{x^13}{x^2}=10^{13-2}=10^{11}$

growth rate is $10^{11}$ per hour