Assessment on Linear and Exponential Modelling

Total Marks: 15 Time Duration: 25 minutes

The table below provides information about an experiment conducted by a biologist who
records the number of bacteria in a petri dish at the end of each day for five consecutive days.

(a) Use your GDC to plot the above data points on a scatter diagram (you may wish to
draw a rough sketch for your teacher’s reference). Using a suitable regression,
estimate the number of bacteria at the start of the experiment. [3]

(b) Which of the following models best fits the relationship between 𝑥 and 𝑛 ?

𝑛 = 𝑝𝑞 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑝𝑥 2 + 𝑞 𝑛 = 𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞
[1]

(c) Use the number of bacteria for day 3 and day 4 with your model to find a value for 𝑞.
Show working. [4]

(d) Find the value of 𝑝 that corresponds to the value for 𝑞 in part (c). [2]

(e) (i) Rewrite your model substituting your values for 𝑝 and 𝑞.
Use your model to estimate the number of bacteria at the end of the seventh day. [2]

(ii) Use your model to estimate the number of bacteria at the start of the experiment.
[2]

(iii) Compare your answer in part(ii) with your estimate in question (a). [1]