The number of bacteria at midnight is 31271 bacteria
Since there are 26,300 bacteria in the petri dish at 5 pm and it grows at a rate of 2.7 % per hour, and we require the number of bacteria in the petri dish at midnight, the time between midnight and 5 pm is 7 hours.
Since the bacteria grows at a rate of 2.7 % per hour, after 7 hours, the growth rate is 2.7 % × 7 hours = 18.9% = 0.189.
So, after 7 hours, the number of bacteria has increased by 18.9 % × 26,300 = 0.189 × 26,300 = 4970.7.
So, the number of bacteria in the petri dish after 7 hours is the 26,300 + 4970.7 = 31270.7 bacteria ≅ 31271 bacteria.
So, the number of bacteria at midnight is 31271 bacteria
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