Question

A colony of 50 bacteria doubles in size every 12 minutes. What will the population be 48 minutes from now?

Answer 1

The initial amount of bacteria is 50.

In 12 minutes, bacteria doubles.

So, the amount of bacteria after first 12 minutes is,

$50\times2=100$

After the next 12 minutes, the amount of bacteria is,

$100\times2=200$

Again, after the next 12 minutes, the amount of bacteria is,

$200\times2=400$

Again, after the next 12 minutes, the amount of bacteria is,

$400\times2=800$

Now, the total time taken is 12+12+12+12=48 minutes.

Therefore, after 48 minutes, the amount of bacteria is 800.