If 200 bacteria triple every 1/2 hour, how much bacteria in 3 hours
Set up the exponential function B(t) where t is the number of tripling times:
B(d) = 200 * (3^t)
3 hours = 6 (1/2 hour) periods, so we have 6 tripling times. We want to know B(6):
B(6) = 200 * (3^6)
B(6) = 200 * 729
B(6) = 145,800