Question

a scientist keeps track of bacteria cells. she starts with 1 cell. after one hour, there are 2 cells. the number of cells continues to double in each of the following hours. complete the statements. the number of cells increases by a factor of ___. table: hour 1: expression ( 2 ), number of cells ( 2 ); hour 2: expression ( 2 cdot 2 ), number of cells ( 4 ); hour 3: expression ( 2 cdot 2 cdot 2 ), number of cells ( 8 ); hour 4: expression ( 2 cdot 2 cdot 2 cdot 2 ), number of cells ( 16 ). diagram showing cell division over hour 1 to 4.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the pattern of cell growth

We observe the number of cells at each hour: Hour 1 has 2 cells, Hour 2 has 4 cells, Hour 3 has 8 cells, Hour 4 has 16 cells. To find the factor by which the number of cells increases, we can divide the number of cells in the next hour by the number of cells in the current hour. For example, from Hour 1 to Hour 2: $\frac{4}{2} = 2$. From Hour 2 to Hour 3: $\frac{8}{4} = 2$. From Hour 3 to Hour 4: $\frac{16}{8} = 2$. So the number of cells increases by a factor of 2 each hour.

Answer:

2