Question

Which of the following answers is the best description for the deer population with the greatest growth rate:

The blue line shows a deer population that grew with an exponential growth rate. In the first year the population increased by only one deer, but between years seven and eight the population grew by two deer, showing that the growth rate continuously doubles.
The blue line shows a deer population that grew with a linear growth rate, because the graph shows that the population increased by approximately one deer per year.
The red line shows a linear growth rate, because an approximate straight line estimates a growth rate of five deer per year.
The red line demonstrates an exponential growth rate, because the growth rate for the deer population is itself continuously increasing.

Answer 1

The best description for the deer population with the greatest growth rate is the first option.

The blue line depicts an exponential growth rate, evident from the continuous doubling of the growth rate between years seven and eight. This pattern signifies accelerating growth, characteristic of exponential increase.

The other options incorrectly attribute linear growth rates to either the blue or red lines and fail to capture the crucial aspect of exponential growth represented by the doubling of the growth rate. Therefore, the first option provides the most accurate description of the deer population's growth dynamics based on the information provided.