Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Practice Exam

What characterizes exponential growth?

1. Growth by a fixed percentage where each increase is added to the principal

2. Continuous growth at a constant rate over time

3. Growth that varies independently of population size

4. Non-linear growth patterns over multiple time periods

The correct answer is: Growth by a fixed percentage where each increase is added to the principal

Exponential growth is characterized by growth by a fixed percentage wherein each increase is compounded based on the current size of the quantity. This means that as the quantity increases, the amount added during each time period also increases, because it is a percentage of the growing total. This leads to a situation where the growth is not linear; instead, it accelerates over time, resulting in a rapid increase. While continuous growth at a constant rate might appear similar at a glance, it does not account for the compounding effect seen in exponential growth. Options that suggest independence from population size or non-linear growth patterns may describe different types of growth scenarios but do not specifically define what exponential growth entails. In summary, exponential growth is uniquely defined by its compounding nature, where each increase is significantly influenced by the size of the quantity at that moment, leading to rapid growth over time.