What term describes a rapid increase in population growth?

What term describes a rapid increase in population growth?

• A. Exponential growth
• B. Linear growth
• C. Arithmetic growth
• D. Logistic growth

Answer: (A)

Exponential growth describes a rapid increase because the number added each time depends on how many are already there. As the population grows, the rate of increase gets bigger, producing a steep, J-shaped rise. For example, if a population doubles each period, it goes 100, 200, 400, 800, and so on. This contrasts with linear or arithmetic growth, where a fixed number is added each period, giving a straight-line increase, and with logistic growth, which starts fast but slows downs as resources become limiting. So the term that best describes a rapid increase in population growth is exponential growth.

Exponential growth describes a rapid increase because the number added each time depends on how many are already there. As the population grows, the rate of increase gets bigger, producing a steep, J-shaped rise. For example, if a population doubles each period, it goes 100, 200, 400, 800, and so on. This contrasts with linear or arithmetic growth, where a fixed number is added each period, giving a straight-line increase, and with logistic growth, which starts fast but slows downs as resources become limiting. So the term that best describes a rapid increase in population growth is exponential growth.