In a test of bacteria growth, the bacteria concentration (y, in Mcfu/mL; "cfu"=colony forming unit) in a solution is measured at various times (x, in minutes). The bacteria concentration measurements have an accuracy of 3%.

Thomas Malthus's law of exponential growth is expected to apply to these bacteria, so an exponential relationship is expected between x and y.

The doubling time T for an organism is related to the B parameter of the exponential relationship:

T=0.693/B

  1. Fit this data to an exponential relationship.
  2. Consider Malthus's scientific claim of an exponential law. Does this evidence (data) confirm or contradict this claim? Support your answer quantitatively.
  3. Properly report (sigfigs, error, units) the A and B parameters of the best-fit exponential relationship.
  4. Use a spreadsheet to calculate the doubling time, and properly report (sigfigs, error, units) the value.
  5. Self-document the spreadsheet and turn in a hardcopy of the page.
  6. Make a hardcopy plot of the data with best-fit curve. Make an additional hardcopy plot with scales chosen so as to linearize thecurve.

X
(min)		Y
(Mcfu/mL)
1 3.16
2 3.47
8 5.53
23 16.2
41 67.1
55 187
68 518
74 789
75 778
771.03E3