A culture that produces two generations per hour has what relationship in generation time compared with a culture producing three generations per hour?

Introduction / Context: Generation time (g) and generations per hour are inversely related. Comparing two cultures with different doubling frequencies illustrates this reciprocal relationship and reinforces intuition for growth kinetics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Culture A: 2 generations per hour.
• Culture B: 3 generations per hour.
• g = 1 / (generations per hour) * 60 minutes.

Concept / Approach: If generations per hour increase, the time per generation must decrease. Therefore, the culture doubling more frequently has a shorter g. Explicit calculation confirms the qualitative conclusion and avoids mistakes.

Step-by-Step Solution: For 2 generations per hour: g = 60 / 2 = 30 minutes. For 3 generations per hour: g = 60 / 3 = 20 minutes. Compare: 30 minutes (two per hour) is greater than 20 minutes (three per hour). Therefore, select “greater than that produces three generations per hour.”

Verification / Alternative check: The general rule holds: if culture X has higher generations per hour than culture Y, then g_X < g_Y. Here, 3 > 2, so 20 < 30.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Lesser than: Opposite of the computed values.
• Equal/None: Refuted by direct calculation.

Common Pitfalls: Confusing “faster growth” with a “bigger number of minutes”; faster growth means a smaller generation time.

Final Answer: greater than that produces three generations per hour.