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
Logistic growth refers to a type of population growth that starts with exponential growth but eventually levels off due to limited resources or other factors.
Differential equations are mathematical equations that involve derivatives and are used to model various phenomena, including logistic growth. They describe how a quantity changes over time based on its rate of change.
Mathematical Modeling: Mathematical modeling is the process of creating mathematical equations or systems to represent real-world situations. In the case of logistic growth, mathematical modeling helps us understand and predict how populations will grow and reach their carrying capacity.
Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support. In logistic growth, populations eventually reach their carrying capacity when resources become limited, leading to stable population sizes.