Final answer:
The question discusses the doubling period of a bacterial population. Using the formula for exponential growth, we deduce that the initial population was approximately 938 bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is mathematics, specifically exponential growth or decay, as it discusses the doubling period of a bacterial population. The initial population doubles every 15 minutes. This type of problem typically involves using the formula for exponential growth which is A = P * 2(t/d)
- A is the amount of material present at time t.
- P is the initial amount.
- t is the time elapsed.
- d is the doubling period.
At t=90 minutes, the population is 60000. This means the population has doubled 90/15 = 6 times. So, to find the initial population size (P), you would divide the final population by 26 = 64: P = 60000 / 64 = 937.5. So, the initial population was approximately 938 bacteria.
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