Calculating Total Number of Live Viruses after 10 Seconds

  • Thread starter johncena
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In summary, a virus gives birth to 2 new viruses every second and has a lifespan of 5 seconds. The reproduction process is continuous until the virus dies. Given an initial virus at t=0, the total number of live viruses after 10 seconds can be calculated by subtracting the number of dead viruses from the number of born viruses. However, it should be noted that dead viruses do not contribute to the count of born ones. Therefore, the given answer of 35 (35-1) is incorrect and the correct answer would be less than that.
  • #1
johncena
131
1

Homework Statement



A virus give birth to 2 new virus in each second and life span of each virus is 5 seconds.The process of reproduction is continuous until the death of the virus.Initially there is one newly born virus at time t=0.Find the total number of live viruses just after 10 seconds.

Homework Equations



number of viruses born - number of viruses dead

The Attempt at a Solution



Number of born viruses = 1+2+4+8+...+1024
Number of viruses dead = 0x4+(1+2+4+...+64)

there fore, answer = 27+28+29+210

but the given answer is 35(35-1)
Nowhere near!

pls help...
 
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  • #2
johncena said:

Homework Statement



A virus give birth to 2 new virus in each second and life span of each virus is 5 seconds.The process of reproduction is continuous until the death of the virus.Initially there is one newly born virus at time t=0.Find the total number of live viruses just after 10 seconds.

Homework Equations



number of viruses born - number of viruses dead

The Attempt at a Solution



Number of born viruses = 1+2+4+8+...+1024
Number of viruses dead = 0x4+(1+2+4+...+64)

there fore, answer = 27+28+29+210

but the given answer is 35(35-1)
Nowhere near!

pls help...

3^5*(3^5-1)=58806. Even if no viruses die, that's way to big be the answer after 10 seconds. If that's the given answer, there is something wrong with it. But your answer isn't right either. Dead viruses don't reproduce.
 
  • #3
Sir, i can't get you ... can you explain a bit more?
you mean that no more viruses reproduce after 5 seconds?
 
  • #4
johncena said:
Sir, i can't get you ... can you explain a bit more?
you mean that no more viruses reproduce after 5 seconds?

I mean that the ones that have died don't contribute to the count of born ones. Try working this out as a table. At t=4 you have 16. At t=5 you have 32, then you remove the old one so you get 31. How many at t=6?
 
  • #5
Ohhhh...i missed that point...

thanks sir...you was very helpful...
 

FAQ: Calculating Total Number of Live Viruses after 10 Seconds

What is the significance of the number of live viruses in a sample?

The number of live viruses in a sample is important because it indicates the potential for the virus to spread and cause infection. A higher number of live viruses means a higher chance of infection.

How is the number of live viruses measured?

The number of live viruses is typically measured using a technique called plaque assay. This involves infecting a cell culture with the sample and counting the number of plaques (holes) formed by the viruses as they multiply.

Can the number of live viruses be used to determine the severity of an outbreak?

Yes, the number of live viruses can be used as an indicator of the severity of an outbreak. A higher number of live viruses in a sample can suggest a more widespread and serious outbreak.

How does the number of live viruses change over time?

The number of live viruses in a sample can change over time as the virus continues to replicate and potentially mutate. It can also decrease as the host's immune system responds and eliminates the viruses.

Are there any factors that can affect the accuracy of the number of live viruses measurement?

Yes, there are several factors that can affect the accuracy of the number of live viruses measurement, such as the sensitivity of the assay used, the quality of the sample, and the presence of substances that can interfere with the assay.

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