Understanding Growth Patterns in Real Life Cont. 

From the business landscape, we move into the digital realm of social media. Here, an influencer’s follower count showcases another facet of growth. This scenario not only changes the context but also introduces the concept of exponential increases, offering a new perspective on how growth can be modeled and predicted.

Scenario 3: Social Media Followers

An influencer on social media had [latex]1,000[/latex] followers in January. Each month, the number of followers doubles. The growth for the first few months is as follows:

• February: [latex]2,000[/latex]
• March: [latex]4,000[/latex]
• April: [latex]8,000[/latex]

 

Leaving the digital world, we now focus on a biological example. The growth of a classroom plant offers a tangible, observable form of increase. This scenario brings us back to the basics of linear growth, where you’ll apply your skills to a living organism’s development.

Scenario 4: Classroom Plant

A biology class is tracking the growth of a plant. On Day 1, the plant was [latex]2[/latex] cm tall. Each day, it grows by an additional [latex]1[/latex] cm.

Through these varied scenarios, you’ve applied mathematical principles to understand and predict different types of growth in real-world contexts. Whether dealing with population sizes, financial revenues, social media trends, or biological growth, the ability to discern between linear and geometric growth and to calculate future outcomes is an invaluable skill. These exercises not only reinforce your understanding of mathematical concepts but also demonstrate their practical applications in everyday life. Great work today!