baterium generation time

[TimeforDAT]

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if the generation time of a bacterium is 20 minutes, then in 2 hours there will be 64 bacteria.

How do you figure that out? i'm getting 32

 

[rimmies]

2^6, I suppose they assume you start with 2?

 

[TimeforDAT]

2^6, I suppose they assume you start with 2?

yeah..i figured out what i did wrong..thanks

 

[PapaDeath]

Well, you actually start with 1 bacterium...in 2 hours there are 6 times where the bacteria will divide.

Each arrow is a "divide:"
1 --> 2 --> 4 --> 8 --> 16 --> 32 --> 64

2^6 gives you the right answer, but you still start with one bacterium.

 

[AaBbZz]

You can also see it when you write out the half lifes
0mins-1
20mins-2
40mins-4
60min-8
80mins-16
100mins-32
120mins-64