Two-Phase Exponential Process Analysis

00:00 9 marks

  • Exam Style - Paper 3
  • SL & HL
  • Tier 4
  • Logarithms
  • Exponential growth
  • Exponential decay
  • Two-phase processes

A bacterial colony undergoes a two-phase process. In the first phase, the population grows exponentially at a rate of 5% per minute for a duration of \(t_1\) minutes. In the second phase, due to limited resources, the population decays exponentially at a rate of 2% per minute.

(a) Formulate the mathematical expressions for the two phases. For the growth phase, derive the expression for \(P(t)\) when \(0 \leq t \leq t_1\). For the decay phase, express \(P(t)\) for \(t > t_1\) in terms of \(P(t_1)\) and the decay rate.

(b) Given \(P_0 = 100\), \(t_1 = 10\) minutes, and a decay phase duration of 5 minutes, calculate the population at the end of the decay phase.

(c) Interpret the overall change in population from the initial value \(P_0\) to the final value after both phases, expressing the overall percentage change.

Part a

5 minutes 3 marks

Question

Formulate the mathematical expressions for the two phases. For the growth phase, derive the expression for \(P(t)\) when \(0 \leq t \leq t_1\). For the decay phase, express \(P(t)\) for \(t > t_1\) in terms of \(P(t_1)\) and the decay rate.



Hint Hint

Hint

Write the formula for exponential growth and then for decay starting from the population at \(t_1\).

  • Answer Answer

Complete Answer

Growth phase: \(P(t) = P_0 e^{0.05t}\) for \(0 \leq t \leq t_1\); Decay phase: \(P(t) = P(t_1) e^{-0.02(t – t_1)}\) for \(t > t_1\).

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Part b

5 minutes 3 marks

Question

Given \(P_0 = 100\), \(t_1 = 10\) minutes, and a decay phase lasting 5 minutes, calculate the population at the end of the decay phase.



Hint Hint

Hint

First calculate \(P(10)\) using the growth expression, then apply the decay factor for 5 minutes.

  • Answer Answer

Complete Answer

At \(t=10\): \(P(10)=100e^{0.05×10}=100e^{0.5}\).
After 5 minutes of decay: \(P = 100e^{0.5}e^{-0.02×5}=100e^{0.5-0.1}=100e^{0.4}\) which is approximately 149.18.

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Part c

5 minutes 3 marks

Question

Interpret the overall change in the population from the initial value \(P_0\) to the final value after both phases. Express the overall percentage change.



Hint Hint

Hint

Determine the overall multiplier on \(P_0\) then convert that into a percentage change.

  • Answer Answer

Complete Answer

The final population is \(100e^{0.4}\) (approximately 149.18), indicating an overall increase of about 49.18% from the initial population of 100.

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