A science journalist is analyzing the growth of a certain species of algae. The algae population doubles every 3 days. If the initial population is 500 cells, what will be the population after 15 days?

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:53:23 +0000

Scientists Study the Rapid Growth of Algae: How a Population Doubles Every 3 Days Explodes in Just 15 Days In the fascinating world of microbiology, understanding how algae populations grow is key to predicting ecological shifts, managing water quality, and even harnessing renewable biofuels. A recent analysis by a science journalist reveals startling growth patterns of a certain algae species—specifically, one that doubles in population every 3 days. With an initial count of just 500 cells, how many algae will there be after 15 days? The answer is a stunning example of exponential growth. ### The Exponential Power Behind Algae Growth Exponential growth occurs when a population increases at a constant rate relative to its size—exactly what happens with this algae strain. Since the population doubles every 3 days, we can predict how many doubling periods occur within 15 days.