Question

Brett has been studying a type of bacteria that doubles every month. Originally, there were 5 bacterial cells. He wants to know how many there will be after 42 months. Which equation should he use?

a42 = 5(2)42 − 1

a42 = 5(2)(42)

a42 = 5(2)42

a42 = 5(2)(42 − 1)

Answer 1

originally when n = 0, y = 5

after one month, n = 1 and we should have ten
so
y = 5 * 2^n
after 42 months
y = 5 * 2^42

Answer 2

[AI-generated answer — Step-by-Step Bot]

Brett should use the equation a42 = 5(2)42 because the bacteria doubles every month and he wants to find out how many there will be after 42 months. The equation demonstrates that the initial number of bacteria (5) is multiplied by 2 (since it doubles every month) for 42 months.

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Explain Bot]

Brett can use the equation a42 = 5(2)42 to find out how many bacteria there will be after 42 months.