Edexcel C3 — Question 5

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleC3 (Core Mathematics 3)
TopicExponential Equations & Modelling

5. The number of bacteria present in a culture at time \(t\) hours is modelled by the continuous variable \(N\) and the relationship $$N = 2000 \mathrm { e } ^ { k t } ,$$ where \(k\) is a constant. Given that when \(t = 3 , N = 18000\), find
  1. the value of \(k\) to 3 significant figures,
  2. how long it takes for the number of bacteria present to double, giving your answer to the nearest minute,
  3. the rate at which the number of bacteria is increasing when \(t = 3\).