Abacteria culture begins with 15 bacteria which double in amount at the end of every hour. how many bacteria are grown during the 12th hour?
30,720
782,580
7,971,615
23,914,845

We use P = i•e^rt for exponential population growth, where P = end population, i = initial population, r = rate, and t = time
P = 2•i = 2•15 = 30, so 30 = 15 [e^(r•1)],
or 30/15 = 2 = e^(r)
ln 2 = ln (e^r)
.693 = r•(ln e), ln e = 1, so r = .693
Now that we have our doubling rate of .693, we can use that r and our t as the 12th hour is t=11, because there are 11 more hours at the end of that first hour
So our initial population is again 15, and P = i•e^rt
P = 15•e^(.693×11) = 15•e^(7.624)
P = 15•2046.94 = 30,704