A sample of 500 bacteria grows exponentially and increases by 29% each hour.

  1. How many bacteria will there be after 36 hours?
  2. How long does it take for the population to double?

  1. Using LaTeX: \displaystyle P=P_0e^{kt} gives LaTeX: \displaystyle P=500e^\frac{29 t}{100} . Evaluating at LaTeX: \displaystyle t=36 gives LaTeX: \displaystyle P=17100326 bacteria.
  2. The doubling time is LaTeX: \displaystyle t=\frac{\ln 2}{k}=2.39 hours