QuestionA scientist keeps track of bacteria cells. She starts with 1 cell. After one hour, there are 2 cells. The number of cells continues to double in each of the following hours.
Complete the table to show the total number of cells after 4 hours.
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|}
\hline Hour & Expression & Number of Cells \\
\hline 1 & 2 & 2 \\
\hline 2 & & 4 \\
\hline 3 & & 8 \\
\hline 4 & & \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
Hour 1
Hour 2
Hour 3
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking? If we start with one bacteria and the number doubles every hour, how many bacteria will there be after four hours? Watch out! Don't forget that the number of bacteria *doubles* every hour, it doesn't just increase by two each time!
STEP 2
1. Calculate the number of cells after 4 hours.
2. Complete the table.
STEP 3
We're given that the number of bacteria **doubles** every hour.
This means if we have bacteria at the start of an hour, we'll have bacteria at the end of that hour!
STEP 4
At hour 1, we have bacteria.
This is our **starting point**.
STEP 5
After one hour, the number of bacteria doubles.
So, we multiply the number of bacteria at hour 1 by 2: .
We now have **4** bacteria.
STEP 6
The bacteria double again!
We multiply the number of bacteria at hour 2 by 2: .
Now we have **8** bacteria.
STEP 7
Let's double that number one more time for hour 4: .
Boom! We have **16** bacteria.
STEP 8
The only missing piece in the table is the number of cells at hour 4.
We just figured out that there are **16** bacteria at hour 4.
Let's put that in the table!
STEP 9
After 4 hours, there are **16** bacteria cells.
The completed table looks like this:
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|}
\hline Hour & Expression & Number of Cells \\
\hline 1 & 2 & 2 \\
\hline 2 & & 4 \\
\hline 3 & & 8 \\
\hline 4 & & **16** \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
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