Multiple choice general knowledge sports

The bacteria in a test-tube double each minute. It is full in one hour. When was it half full?

  1. 30 minutes

  2. 25 minutes

  3. 45 minutes

  4. 50 minutes

  5. 59 minutes

  6. none of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Since bacteria double each minute, working backwards: at 60 minutes it's full, so at 59 minutes it was half full (because doubling half gives full). The key insight is exponential growth - it doesn't take half the time to reach half capacity. Option E (59 minutes) is correct.