A population of bacteria is treated with an antibiotic. It is estimated that 5,000 live bacteria existed in the sample before treatment. After each day of treatment, 40% of the
sample remains alive. What is f(7) and what does it mean?
a) After one week the population of the bacteria will be 8.192.
b) That the bacteria has a population of 5,000.
c) That 40% of the bacteria will be 7.
d) After 8.192 days, the population of the bacteria will be 7.
a) After one week the population of the bacteria will be 8.192.
f(7) = 5000 * (0.4)^7 = 8.192
This means that after 7 days of treatment with the antibiotic, only 8.192 bacteria are estimated to be alive in the population.