Texas A&M University (TAMU) BIOL206 Practice Exam 3

The equation Nf=(Ni)2^n is a mathematical representation of population growth, specifically under conditions of exponential growth. In this equation, Nf represents the final population size, Ni represents the initial population size, and n represents the number of generations or time periods that have elapsed.

When a population doubles in size each generation, as described by the factor 2^n, the growth is exponential. This can be observed in many types of organisms, including bacteria, under optimal conditions where resources are abundant and environmental factors such as space and nutrients are not limiting. Therefore, this equation is widely used to calculate how the size of a population changes over successive generations, making it a fundamental concept in studying population dynamics.

The other options focus on specific biological processes like bacterial decay, factors affecting growth, or antibiotic resistance, which do not directly relate to the exponential growth model represented by this equation.