2. A bacterial population follows the “Law of Exponential change”. If between 2:00 P.

M the population
triples, at what time would the population become 100 times what it was at noon? At 10:00 A.M, what
was the percentage of the bacterial population in terms of the population at noon?

kt
P=P 0 e

Where:

P0 : Initial population at t=0

P ( t ) : Population at time t .

k :Growth constant

t :Time elapsed (¿ hours , assuming 12: 00 PM as t=0)

Part 1: Finding when the population becomes 100 times its size at noon.

Step 1: Express the given information mathematically

At t = 2, the population triples, so:

P ( 2 )=3 P0

Substitute into the exponential equation:

2k
3 P0=P0 e

Cancel P0 ( since P 0 ≠ 0 ) :

2k
3=e

Take the natural logarithm (ln) of both sides:

ln(3) = 2k

Solve for k:

ln ⁡(3)
k=
2
Step 2: Determine when the population is 100 times P0.

We need to find t such that:

P(t) = 100 P0

Substitute into the exponential equation:

kt
100 P0=P0 e

Cancel P0 :
kt
100=e

Take the natural logarithm of both sides:

ln(100) = kt
ln ⁡(3)
Substitute k = :
2

ln ⁡(3)
ln(100) = ∙t
2

Solve for t:

2 ln (100 )
t=
ln ( 3 )

Step 3: Compute t.

Using approximate values:

ln ( 100 ) ≈ 4.605 , ln ( 3 ) ≈ 1.099

2∙ 4.605 9.21
t= ≈ ≈ 8.38 hours
1.099 1.099

Thus, the population becomes 100 times its noon size at:

Noon + 8.38 hours ≈ 8:23 P.M

Part 2: Percentage of the population at 10:00 AM compared to noon.

Step1: Time difference between 10:00 AM and noon.

The time difference is:

t = -2 hours (negative since it’s before noon).

Step 2: Population at 10:00 AM.

k(−2)
P (−2 )=P0 e

ln ⁡(3)
Substitute k = :
2
− ln ( 3)
∙2
(−2 )=P 0 e 2

Simplify:

1 1
P (−2 )=P0 e
−ln ( 3 )
= P0 ∙ =P0 ∙
e
ln ( 3 )
3

Thus, at 10:00 AM, the population is:

1
∙ 100 = 33.33% of the noon population.
3

Final Answers:

1. The population becomes 100 times its noon size at approximately 8:23 PM.

2. At 10:00 AM, the population is 33.33% of the population at noon.

6. A certain radioactive element follows the law of exponential change. And has a half-life of 38 hours.
Find:

a.) How long it takes for 90% of the radioactivity of the element to be dissipated

b.) The percentage of radio activity that remains after 76 hours.

−kt
P(t )=P0 e

Step 1: Find the decay constant k

We know that the half-life of the substance is the time it takes for the substance to decay to half of its
original amount. So, at t=38t = 38t=38 hours, the remaining amount is half the initial amount:

P0 −38 k
=P 0 e
2

Canceling P0 ( assuming P ≠ 0 ) :

1 −38 k
=e
2

Taking the natural logarithm (ln) of both sides:

ln ( 12 )=−38 k
Solving for k:

ln ⁡(2)
k=
38

Using ln(2) ≈ 0.693 :

 0.693
k≈ ≈ 0.0183 per hour.
38

Step 2: Find time for 90% dissipation (part a)

To find the time it takes for 90% of the radioactivity to be dissipated, we want to find when only 10% of
the initial radioactivity remains. This means:

P(t) = 0.1 P0

Substitute into the decay equation:

−kt
0.1 P0=P 0 e

Cancel P0 :

−kt
0.1=e

Taking the natural logarithm of both sides:

ln(0.1) = -kt

Since ln(0.1) ≈−2.302 , we have :

-2.302 = -kt

Substitute k ≈ 0.0183 :

-2.302 = 0.0183 ∙ t

Solving for t:

2.302
t= ≈ 126.7 hours .
0.0183

So, it takes approximately 126.7 hours for 90% of the radioactivity to be dissipated.

Step 3: Find the remaining radioactivity after 76 hours (part b)

To find the percentage of radioactivity that remains after 76 hours, we use the decay equation again:

−0.0183 ∙76
P ( 76 )=P 0 e
First, calculate the exponent:

−0.0183 ∙ 76 ≈−1.389

Now, calculate P(76):

−1.389
P ( 76 )=P 0 e e ≈ P0 ∙0.249

Thus, after 76 hours, approximately 24.9% of the radioactivity remains.

Finals Answers:

a) It takes approximately 126.7 hours for 90% of the radioactivity to be dissipated.

b) After 76 hours, approximately 24.9% of the radioactivity remains.

Example: A bacteria culture starts with 4000 bacteria and triples every half hour.

a. Find an expression for the number of bacteria after t hours.

b. Find the number of bacteria after 20 minutes.
c. When will the population reach 20,000?

Step 1: General Approach

The population growth follows the Law of Exponential Growth:

kt
P ( t ) =P0 ∙ e

Step 2: Find the Growth Rate k

Since the population triples every half hour, we can use the following relationship:

P ( t+0.5 )=3 P ( t )

This implies that after 0.5 hours, the population is three times the initial population. We can plug this into
the exponential growth equation:

k (t+ 0.5)
P ( t+0.5 )=P0 ∙ e

Since we know P(t + 0.5) = 3P(t), substitute this into the equation:

k(t +0.5)
3 P ( t )=P 0 ∙ e

Now substitute P(t) = P0 ∙ ek t :

3 ∙ P0 ∙ ekt ∙e 0.5 k
Cancel e kt from both sides:

3 = e 0.5 k

Take the natural logarithm (ln) of both sides:

ln(3) = 0.5k

Solve for k:

ln ⁡(3)
k= =2 ∙ ln (3 ) ≈ 2 ∙ 1.0986 = 2.1972
0.5

Thus, the growth rate k≈ 2.1092 per hour .

Step 3: Part a) Find an Expression for the Number of Bacteria After t Hours

P ( t ) =4000 ∙ e 2.1972t

Step 4: Part b) Find the Number of Bacteria After 20 Minutes

1 1
We need to find the population after 20 minutes. Since 20 minutes is of an hour , t= hours .
3 3

1
Substitute t = into the equation:
3
1
2.1972 ∙ ¿
1
()
3
P =4000 ∙ e ¿
3

First, calculate the exponent:

1
2.1972 ∙ ≈ 0.7324
3

Now calculate the population:

P ( 13 )=4000 ∙ e 0.7324
≈ 4000 ∙ 2.0829 ≈ 8331.6

So, after 20 minutes, the population is approximately 8332 bacteria.

Step 5: Part c) When Will the Population Reach 20,000?

To find when the population reaches 20,000, we set P(t) = 20,000 and solve for t:

2.1972 t
20000=4000 ∙ e

Divide both sides by 4000:

2.1972 t
5=e

Take the natural logarithm of both sides:

ln(5) = 2.1972t

Solve for t:

ln ( 5 ) 1.6094
t= ≈ ≈ 0.7324 hours
2.1972 2.1972

So, the population will reach 20,000 after approximately 0.7324 hours, or 43.94 minutes.

Final Answer:

a) The expression for the number of bacteria after t hours is:

2.1972 t
P ( t ) =4000 ∙ e
b) After 20 minutes, the number of bacteria is approximately 8332.
c) The population will reach 20,000 after approximately 43.94 minutes.
As you have probably previously seen, similar functions can be used to represent radioactive decay. In
this case the value of k will turn out to be negative. The term half-life is used to describe the amount of
time it takes for half of any given amount to decay away.

Example: Polonium-210 has a half-life of 140 days.

a. If a sample has a mass of 200 mg. Find a formula for the mass that remains days.
b. Find the mass after 100 days.
c. When will the mass be reduced to 10mg?

Step 1: General Exponential Decay Formula

For radioactive decay, the mass of the substance decreases over time according to the following
exponential decay formula:

−kt
P ( t ) =P0 e

Step 2: Find the Decay Constant k

We are given the half-life of Polonium-210 is 140 days, which means the mass reduces to half of its initial
value after 140 days. We can use this information to find k:

At t = 140 days, the mass is half of the initial mass:

 −k ∙140
P0 e

Cancel P0 ¿ both sides ( assuming P 0 ≠ 0 ) :

1 −k ∙140
=e
2

Take the natural logarithm (ln) of both sides:

ln ( 12 )=−140 k
1
Since ln ( )=−ln (2) we have :
2 ,

-ln(2) = -140k

Solve for k:

ln ( 2 )
k=
140

Using ln ( 2 ) ≈ 0.693 :

0.693
k≈ ≈ 0.00495 per day .
140

Since the decay constant is negative for decay:

k ≈−0.00495 per day .

Step 3: Part a) Find a Formula for the Mass That Remains After t Days

Now that we have the decay constant k, we can plug it into the exponential decay formula. The initial
mass is M 0=200 mg .

So, the formula for the mass remaining after t days is:

−0.00495 t
M ( t )=200∙ e

Step 4: Part b) Find the Mass After 100 Days

Now, let’s calculate the mass after 100 days using the formula we found in part a.

Substitute t = 100 into equation:

 M (100 )=200 ∙ e−0.00495 ∙100

First calculate the exponent:

0.00495 ∙ 100=0.495

Now calculate the mass:

−0.495
M (100 )=200 ∙ e ≈ 200 ∙ 0.6109 ≈122.18 mg .

So, after 100 days, the mass is approximately 122.18 mg.

Step 5; Part c) When Will the Mass Be Reduced to 10 mg?

To find when the mass will be reduced to 10 mg, we set M(t) = 10 mg and solve for t:

−0.00495t
10=200∙ e

Divide both side by 200:

10 −0.00495 t
=e
200

Simplify:

−0.00495t
0.05=e

Take the natural logarithm of both sides:

ln(0.05) = -0.00495t

Since ln ( 0.05 ) ≈−2.9957 . we have :

-2.9957 = -0.00495t

Solve for t:

2.9957
t= ≈ 604.2 days
0.00495

So, it will take approximately 604.2 days for the mass to be reduced to 10 mg.

Finals Answer:
 a) The formula for the mass remaining after t days is:
−0.00495t
M ( t )=200∙ e
b) After 100 days, the mass is approximately 122.18 mg.
c) The mass will be reduced to 10 mg after approximately 604.2 days

Example 1. Use the fact that the world population was 2560 million in 1950 and 3040 million in 1960 to
model the population of the world in the second half of the 20th century. (Assume that the growth rate is
proportional to the population size.) What is the relative growth rate? Use the model to estimate the world
population in 1993 and to predict the population in the year 2020.

kt kt
P ( t ) =P ( o ) e =2560 e
10 k
P ( 10 )=2560 e =3040

1 3040
k= ln ≈ 0.017185∨1.7 % per year
10 2560

0.017185 t
P ( t ) =2560 e

0.027285 ( 43 )
P ( 43 )=2560 e ≈ 5360 million

0.017185 ( 70 )
P ( 70 )=2560 e ≈ 8524 million