1. A scientist is studying two different populations of bacteria.

The number of bacteria \(N\) in the first population is modelled by the equation $$N = A \mathrm { e } ^ { k t } \quad t \geqslant 0$$ where \(A\) and \(k\) are positive constants and \(t\) is the time in hours from the start of the study. Given that

• there were 2500 bacteria in this population at the start of the study
• there were 10000 bacteria 8 hours later
  1. find the exact value of \(A\) and the value of \(k\) to 4 significant figures.

The number of bacteria \(N\) in the second population is modelled by the equation $$N = 60000 \mathrm { e } ^ { - 0.6 t } \quad t \geqslant 0$$ where \(t\) is the time in hours from the start of the study.

Find the rate of decrease of bacteria in this population exactly 5 hours from the start of the study. Give your answer to 3 significant figures. When \(t = T\), the number of bacteria in the two different populations was the same.

Find the value of \(T\), giving your answer to 3 significant figures.
(Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable.)