Final answer:
Malthus's law can be used to predict the world population using the formula P(t) = P(0)e^kt. By calculating the growth rate using data from 1970 to 1980, we can find the predicted world population in 2008.
Step-by-step explanation:
Malthus's law states that the rate of change of a population is proportional to the actual population at any given time. To find the predicted world population in 2008, we can use the formula:
P(t) = P(0)e^kt
Where P(t) represents the population at time t, P(0) is the initial population, e is Euler's number (approximately 2.71828), k is the growth rate, and t is the time elapsed.
Given that the world population was 3.712 billion in 1970 and 4.453 billion in 1980, we can use these two data points to calculate the growth rate k:
4.453 = 3.712e^k(1980-1970)
Simplifying the equation, we have:
e^k = 4.453/3.712
k = ln(4.453/3.712)/(1980-1970)
Using the calculated growth rate, we can now find the population in 2008:
P(2008) = 3.712e^(k * (2008 - 1970))