|
There are an unknown number of viruses in a bottle. Let’s call this unknown number “V”. The virus doubles itself every hour. How many viruses will there be after 3 hours? |
|
Let us break the above problem and understand what is going on. |
|
Number of viruses in the bottle at the start: V |
|
Number of viruses in the bottle after 1 hour: V + V = 2 x V |
|
Number of viruses in the bottle after 2 hours: (V + V) + (V + V) = 4 x V = 2 x 2 x V |
|
Number of viruses in the bottle after 3 hours: ((V + V) + (V + V)) + ((V + V) + (V + V)) = 8 x V = 2 x 2 x 2 x V |
|
From the above we see the pattern: |
|
The number of 2 that V must be multiplied with is equals to the number of hours. |
|
Let’s extend the problem to see how many viruses are there in the bottle after 100 hours. Can you imagine the numbers of V + V + V…. you have to write? It would take pages and pages of paper! Isn’t there an easier way to visualize? Instead of writing out the multiplication, we can use and pattern and simply use exponents! |
|
Number of viruses in the bottle after 3 hours: V x 23 |
|
Number of viruses in the bottle after 100 hours: V x 2100 |
|
From the above we see that it is much easier to write as exponents and visualize the problem.
|
|
Stay tuned for Part 2: Basic Rules
|
