The Mathematics Behind Population Growth

Justina Lange Madison Villarreal Zo Dobson Caroline Phillips

APRIL 17, 2012

7 TH P E R I O D

Topic Choice: Population Growth

It is an interesting topic that we encounter on a daily

basis and we wanted to see how sequences applied to it Used the internet to learn about studies of population growth Geometric works best

Common ratio is between each time measurement the population is measured

REVIEW
ARITHMETIC VS. GEOMETRIC SEQUENCES

Graphs
Arithmetic Sequence
Geometric Sequence

Arithmetic Sequences
List of numbers with a common difference that is

added or subtracted For Example,

Sequence A: 3, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17...

The common difference is adding 3

Generic Sequence: a1, a2, a3, a4 ...

The subnumbers refer to the term in the sequence a1= first term in the sequence

Common difference can be found by subtracting an-an-1

Geometric Sequences
list of numbers with a common ratio-a common

number multiplied or divided For Example:

Sequence A: 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 , 16...

We multiply each term by 2 to get the next term

Generic Sequence: a1, a2, a3, a4 ...

The ratio can be calculated by an/an-1

Applying What We Know

Which Describes Population Growth Best?

Austins Population Growth
Chinas Population Growth

Which Describes Population Growth Best?

Neither are perfect Arithmetic
A population wont have a constant number added each year Increase of population means more and more have people would have children

Geometric
Most correct- shows the J-curve of population growth Biologically unrealistic Doesn't account for deaths or unexpected catastrophic events like natural disasters, war, etc., which cause unusual population peaks

Infinite GEOMETRIC

Works Cited
Marshall, Jason. "What Are Geometric Sequences?" The Math Dude. Quick and Dirty Tips, 22 Apr. 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://mathdude.quickanddirtytips.com/what-are-geometricsequences.aspx>. Reich, Dan. "THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE, SPIRALS AND THE GOLDEN MEAN." Department of Mathematics. Temple University. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://www.math.temple.edu/~reich/Fib/fibo.html>. Wattenberg, Frank. "Sequences -- Population Models." Department of Mathematical Sciences. International Thomas Publishing Inc. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://www.math.montana.edu/frankw/ccp/calculus/discdynm /popmods/learn.htm>.