Describing exponential growth: Sheet 1

If bacteria are able to carry on growing, they will divide at regular intervals. This
gives a doubling of the population over a period known as the doubling time.
The example below shows a simple way of calculating population size, using a geometric series
to double the population each day (so here doubling time is one day)
On sheet 2, there is a copy of this dataset for you to complete and plot

Population
(number of cells)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

1
2
4
8
16
32
64
128
256
512
1024
2048
4096
8192
16384
32768
65536
131072
262144
524288
1048576

Bacterial population versus time

1200000

Population (number of cells)

Time
(days)

1000000
800000
600000
400000
200000
0
0

10
Time (days)

15

20

Sheet 1

on versus time

e (days)

15

20

25

Describing exponential growth: Sheet 2

You should recreate the example on sheet 1.

Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Insert the following formula in cell B21 : =B20*2

Copy cell B21
Paste into cells B22 to B40
Check your results against the example on sheet 1
Highlight rows 20-40 in columns A and B
Plot your results using Insert>Chart>XY(scatter)

Time
(days)

You can alter the starting value (cell B20) and se

population size after a specific time
You can also extend the data series. When does
exceed 1 billion (1 000 000 000)?

When you have explored this simple example, m

Population
(number of cells)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

1 <-- this is the starting value for the population of cells

Sheet 2

he starting value (cell B20) and see what effect this has on the
after a specific time
xtend the data series. When does the population
n (1 000 000 000)?

e explored this simple example, move to sheet 3

Describing exponential growth: Sheet 3

The calculation used on sheets 1 and 2 is simplified, and really only works for an exact numbers of days
A more exact and flexible expression is given by:

Pt2 = Pt1 exp(k.[t2-t1])

t1 and t2 are times (in days), and k is a rate constant given by:

k = ln(2)/doubling time

For instance, we can calculate k for a doubling time of 1.5 days

doubling time =
k=

1.5
0.46209812 <-- click on this cell to display the formula

These cells are duplicated below for you to calculate the value of k for a doubling time of 2.5 days
Enter a value of 2.5 into cell C20
doubling time =
k=
#DIV/0!
Now use the formula to calculate population size with a doubling time of 2.5 days
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Type a value of 1 into cell C36, the number of cells at the start
Click on Cell B43 to show the formula for population size after 1 day
Copy Cell B43 and paste down into cells B44-C62
Highlight rows 42 to 62 in columns A and B
Plot your results using Insert>Chart>XY(scatter)

When you have plotted your data, experiment with different values of start population and k
Try using a value for doubling time of 1 day, to confirm that the result is the same as sheet 1

Start population (No) =

doubling time =
k=
Time
(Days)

0
#DIV/0!

Population
(number of cells)
0
1 <-- starting population
1
#DIV/0!
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

20

Sheet 3

ct numbers of days

e of 2.5 days