(a) Let y be the per capita growth rate as a function of b. Using the given data in the problem statement, we know that this linear function passes through the points (6000,3) and (9000,2). The equation of this line is thus
y−3=−30001(b−6000)
so y=(3+2)−30001b=5−30001b. Since the logistic equation comes from taking the product of the population at time t with its per capita growth rate at that time, we find that
dtdb=b(5−30001b)=30001b(15000−b)
(b) From the form of the logistic equation, we see that the carrying capacity for the bacteria is b=15000, which is a stable equilibrium for the population.
(c) The bacteria is increasing most rapidly when dtdb is greatest. Since
dtdb=30001b(15000−b)
is a quadratic function of b, dtdb is maximized at the vertex of this concave down parabola, which occurs halfway between its zeros: b=0 and b=15000. Thus, when b=7500, the population is growing fastest. To find the exact t-value when this occurs, we'd need to know an initial condition like in the next part of the problem.
(d) Using b(0)=1000, we solve the logistic equation IVP with
dtdb=30001b(15000−b). Using N=15000, k=30001, and b0=1000, we know from the standard form of the solution to the logistic equation that
b(t)=(100015000−1000)e−5t+115000=14e−5t+115000. To find how long it takes the bacteria to reach 80% of the carrying capacity, we solve the equation
0.8⋅15=14e−5t+115000. That equation implies that
0.8=14e−5t+11, so 14e−5t+1=1.2 and thus e−5t=0.2/14=1/70. It follows that t=−51ln(1/70)≈0.8497 days.