Question

Bacteria can divide in every 20 minutes. So 1 bacterium can multiply to 2 in 20 minutes. 4 in 40 minutes, and so on. How many bacteria will there be in 6 hours? Write your answer using exponents, and then evaluate.

Most bacteria reproduce by a type of simple cell division known as binary fission. Each species reproduce best at a specific temperature and moisture level.

Answer 1

We know that, 1 h = 60 min

6 h = 60 × 6 min = 360 min

Given, a bacteria doubles itself every 20 min.

Number of times it will double itself = 360 min/20 min = 18

∴ Bacteria will there in 6 h = 2 × 2 × 2 × ... × 2 (18 times) = 2¹⁸