Spreading Rumors

A rumor starts by someone telling the rumor to two people on May 1. Each of those two people are responsible for telling the rumor to two others on the next day (May 2).At this time seven people know the rumor. On May 3, the four people who heard the rumor on May 2 must each tell two more people. It is important for 8000 people to hear the rumor by May 14. Is this outcome likely to occur if the pattern for spreading the rumor continues as started?

On what day will approximately one-half of the 8000 have heard the rumor? On what day will 256 new people be told the rumor? If the rumor process continues until May 20,how many new people will hear the rumor on that day?

If the rumor process continues for n days, how many new people will be told the rumor on the nth day? What will be the total number of people who know the rumor on that day?

(Source: Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, May 1994)