* Exponential Growth: This means that the growth rate is proportional to the size of the population. In simpler terms, the larger the population gets, the faster it grows.

* Doubling Time: The fact that the bacteria population doubles every 20 minutes is a classic indicator of exponential growth. Each doubling represents a significant increase in the population size.

Example:

Let's say you start with 10 bacteria. After 20 minutes, you have 20 bacteria. After another 20 minutes, you have 40 bacteria, and so on. This rapid increase is characteristic of exponential growth.

Important Note: While exponential growth is a powerful concept, it doesn't continue indefinitely. Eventually, factors like limited resources (food, space) or competition will slow down or halt the growth of the bacteria population.