Question 1
Suppose 25 E. coli bacteria are introduced into some food as it’s being processed, and the bacteria
begins tripling every day. How many bacteria are there after one week?
bacteria

After one week, or 7 days, the number of E. coli bacteria can be calculated using the formula , where is the initial amount (25), and is the time in days (7). Plugging in these values gives us . After calculating, we find there will be approximately 5,764,805 E. coli bacteria after one week. That’s a lot of tiny troublemakers!

In the real world, these bacteria are often used in laboratories for studying various biological processes, including genetics and microbiology. However, it’s also a stark reminder of how quickly harmful bacteria can proliferate in food if not handled safely. Always practice good hygiene and food safety—your health depends on it!