Daily Math Puzzle: 2026-09-26
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2026-09-26
A microbiologist is conducting an experiment on biofilm growth in two identical petri dishes, Dish A and Dish B. Both dishes are initially filled with the same nutrient solution concentration and incubated under identical environmental conditions. In Dish A, the biofilm grows uniformly, and its thickness reaches 1 millimeter in exactly 6 hours. Dish B is initially filled with *twice the volume* of the same nutrient solution compared to Dish A. Assuming the biofilm's growth rate in terms of thickness is solely dependent on the nutrient concentration at the surface and environmental factors (which are identical for both dishes), how long will it take for the biofilm in Dish B to reach a thickness of 1 millimeter?
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Solution
6 hours — The question explicitly states that the biofilm's growth rate in terms of *thickness* is "solely dependent on the nutrient concentration at the surface and environmental factors." Since both Dish A and Dish B start with the *same initial nutrient concentration* and are under *identical environmental conditions*, the rate at which the biofilm thickens will be the same in both dishes. The total volume of the nutrient solution (whether it's Dish A's volume or twice that volume in Dish B) does not affect the *rate of thickness increase* at the surface, as long as there is sufficient nutrient supply. Therefore, if it takes 6 hours for the biofilm in Dish A to reach 1 millimeter thickness, it will take the same 6 hours for the biofilm in Dish B.
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