Find C and a so that models the situation described. State what the variable x represents in your formula.
There are initially 4500 bacteria, and this sample doubles in size every hour.

To set up your function, we start with the initial number of bacteria, which is 4500. This will be your constant . Since the bacteria double every hour, the growth factor will be 2, as it represents the doubling. Therefore, your function will be . Here, represents the number of hours that have passed since the initial count of 4500 bacteria.

As you track the growth of the bacteria, you can see how quickly they multiply! After one hour, you’ll have 9000 bacteria, and by the end of the second hour, you’ll have 18,000. It’s a fascinating demonstration of exponential growth in action, showcasing how a small number can explode into a large population in just a couple of hours!