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
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After one week, or 7 days, the number of E. coli bacteria can be calculated using the formula \(N = N_0 \times 3^t\), where \(N_0\) is the initial amount (25), and \(t\) is the time in days (7). Plugging in these values gives us \(N = 25 \times 3^7\). 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!