What is the doubling time for bacteria growth in an exponential model?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the doubling time for bacteria growth using an exponential growth model. The initial number of bacteria is 50, which grows to 1000 in 12 hours. The correct growth constant (k) is determined to be approximately 0.24964, leading to the conclusion that the time taken for the bacteria to double from 1000 to 2000 is approximately 10.2 hours. A critical error in the calculation of k was identified, which significantly impacted the doubling time result.

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KevinL
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I feel like I'm doing everything correctly but my answer for (b) doesn't make any sense.

Assume that bacteria in aculture grows according to an exponential growth model. If the number of bacteria grows from 50 to 1000 in 12 hours:

a)How many bacteria will be present after 18 hours?
b)How long does i take for the number of bacteria to double?

A) db/dt = kb, b(0) = 50
b(t)=ce^(kt)

b(0)=50=ce^(k*0)
c=50

b(12)=50e^(k*12) = 1000
e^(k*12)=20
k=12*ln(20)
k=35.94 >>>> .359

Now that I have c and k I can find how much bacteria there is at 18 hours. So:

b(18) = 50e^(.359*18) = 32017

B) I am assuming they mean double as in get to 2000 bacteria. So:
2000=50e^(.359*t)
40=e^(.359t)
ln(40)/.359 = t
10.2 = t

How can it be at 2000 at 10 hours when I already know that 2 hours later its only at 1000? I must have screwed something up.
 
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k=ln(20)/12=0.24964 not k=12*ln(20)

EDIT: yes, that is your only error
 
Wow that's fairly embarrassing. Thanks for catching that.
 

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