The growth described by the rates of 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 is an example of exponential growth.
In this scenario, the population is doubling at each interval: from 2 to 4 is a doubling, from 4 to 8 is another doubling, and so forth. This type of growth occurs when the increase in a population is proportional to its current size — the larger the population, the faster it grows. In contrast to linear growth, where the increase remains constant over time, exponential growth leads to rapid increases that can become unsustainable in real-world situations.
Exponential growth is often represented mathematically as N(t) = N_0 * e^(rt), where N(t) is the population at time t, N_0 is the initial population, r is the growth rate, and e is Euler’s number (approximately 2.718). In simpler terms, as time goes on, the increase is not just a fixed number; it becomes a larger and larger number, reflecting the nature of exponential growth.