Question

The number of protozoa in a biology laboratory experiment is given by the polynomial functionp(t) = 0.02t^4 + 0.3t^3 + 7t^2, where p is the number of protozoa after t hours.Step 1 of 2: Determine the number of protozoa after 4 hours. Round your answer to the nearestwhole number.

Answer 1

In order to calculate the number of protozoa after 4 hours, let's use t = 4 in the function p(t) and then calculate its value:

$\begin{gathered} p(t)=0.02t^4+0.3t^3+7t^2 \\ p(4)=0.02\cdot4^4+0.3\cdot4^3+7\cdot4^2 \\ p(4)=0.02\cdot256+0.3\cdot64+7\cdot16 \\ p(4)=5.12+19.2+112 \\ p(4)=136.32 \end{gathered}$

Rounding to the nearest whole number, the answer is 136 protozoa.