Example 3

A number of bacteria, , at any time , in hours, can be estimated using the function . Determine the -intercept of the function and describe what it means in terms of this situation. Is the bacteria population exponentially decaying or growing?

1. Determine the -intercept of the function and explain what it represents.
2. Identify the hourly rate of change in the function.
3. Describe how the rate of change relates to the change of the dependent quantity.

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