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What is a doubling time? Suppose a population has a doubling time of 10 years. By what factor will it grow in 30 years?

Choose the correct definition of a doubling time below
A. The time required for each halving in exponential growth
B. The time required for each doubling in exponential growth
C. The time required for each halving in linear growth
D The time required for each doubling in linear growth

User Korunos
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Final answer:

Doubling time refers to the time required for a population to double in size during exponential growth. The correct answer is B. In 30 years, a population with a doubling time of 10 years will grow by a factor of 8.

Step-by-step explanation:

Doubling time is defined as the time required for a quantity to double in size or value at a constant growth rate. In the context of exponential growth, doubling time refers specifically to the period during which a population doubles in size. Answering your question, the correct definition of doubling time is B. The time required for each doubling in exponential growth.

Given that a population has a doubling time of 10 years, we can calculate its growth over 30 years using exponential growth principles. After one doubling time, which is 10 years, the population grows by a factor of 2. In 30 years, there are three doubling periods (30 / 10 = 3). Thus, we use the formula 2^n, where n is the number of doubling periods, which in this case is 3. This results in 2^3 = 8. Therefore, the population will grow by a factor of 8 in 30 years.

User Radical
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