Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Exponential growth refers to a rapid increase in quantity over time, where the rate of growth is proportional to the current value. It occurs when a quantity multiplies by a constant factor at regular intervals.
Related terms
Population Capacity: Population capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment can sustainably support. In terms of exponential growth, it represents the point where growth slows down and reaches equilibrium.
A differential equation is an equation that relates one or more derivatives of an unknown function. In the context of exponential growth, it can be used to model and analyze how a quantity changes over time.
Logarithmic Growth: Logarithmic growth is another type of population growth where the rate decreases as the population approaches its limit. Unlike exponential growth, it has a slower rate as it gets closer to its maximum capacity.