How many bacteria are there after 5 hours?

Answer 1

Bacteria multiply every 15 mins (on average), so...

3 x 60 = 180


180/15 = 12


This means that the bacteria will multiply roughly 12 times.


Assuming you start off with just 1 bacteria...


After the first 15 mins, it would have multiplied itself, so you would have 2 bacteria, and so on. So...


1 - 1 x 2 = 2


2 - 2 x 2 = 4


3 - 4 x 2 = 8


4 - 8 x 2 = 16


5 - 16 x 2 = 32


6 - 32 x 2 = 64


7 - 64 x 2 = 128


8 - 128 x 2 = 256


9 - 256 x 2 = 512


10 - 512 x 2 = 1024


11 - 1024 x 2 = 2048


12 - 2048 x 2 = 4096


So you would have roughly 4096 bacteria after 3 hours

Answer 2

In optimum conditions (nutrients, warmth, water, oxygen, space) bacteria can reproduce every 20 mins.

The amount after 2hrs depends on the initial no. of bacteria. If it were 1, after 2 hrs there'd be 1 x 26 = 64 (120/20=6)

But eventually they also start dying also due to lack of space (there r so many of them) & their own toxic waste poisons them.

Answer 3

In the right conditions one bacterium could become several million in 8 hours and thousands of millions in 12 hours.

Answer 4

Varies greatly depending on the variety of bacteria, temperature, and general environment.

Answer 5

...a couple.

Answer 6

3 time