Final answer:
The growth factor is a direct multiplier to quantify growth, obtained by adding 1 to the growth rate, whereas growth rate is the relative increase expressed as a percentage. Exponential growth features a consistent increase in growth rate but is uncommon in nature due to environmental constraints.
Step-by-step explanation:
The growth factor in mathematics typically refers to the number by which a quantity is multiplied to represent growth over a period of time. For example, if you have $100, and it grows to $110 in a year, the growth factor would be 1.1 (110/100). The growth factor can be calculated by adding 1 to the growth rate (if the growth rate is expressed as a decimal). The growth rate, on the other hand, refers to the relative increase of a quantity over time and is usually expressed as a percentage. If the $10 increase on the $100 is described as a growth rate, it would be 10%.
A positive growth rate means the quantity is increasing, while a negative growth rate indicates a decrease. When the growth rate is consistent, meaning it doesn't change over time, the growth can be exponential or linear depending on whether the growth rate is applied to a constantly changing base (exponential) or a constant base (linear).
To answer the review questions, the type of growth characterized by a consistent increase in growth rate is exponential growth, which isn't commonly observed in nature due to limiting factors. Factors affecting population growth include birth rates, death rates, and migration rates. Altricial organisms are those that are not fully developed at birth and require care, whereas precocial organisms are those that are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth. The overall equation for growth rate usually takes the form of the change in population over the change in time (often represented as (ΔPopulation/ΔTime)).