Exponential Growth: Cool Lecture & How to Calculate Doubling Time

[hackit]

Cool lecture on exponential growth http://sciencehack.com/videos/view/F-QA2rkpBSY The video shows how to calculate the doubling time by dividing 70 by the growth rate. So for a 7% growth rate, the doubling time is 10 years.

 

[Crosson]

This is a famous video that I have seen presented in college classes, thanks for sharing the link online. The University of Colorado professor who is delivering the lecture speaks very clearly, and his message is quite relevant, so I think everyone with a basic education in math should watch it.

My favorite lines are:

"The greatest failure of the human species is its inability to understand the exponential function."

and

"What time is it when the dish is half full? One minute before 12:00."

 

[sir-pinski]

Exponential growth is a fascinating concept that can be seen in various natural and man-made systems. The video provided a great explanation of this concept and how to calculate the doubling time, which is a key factor in understanding exponential growth.

I found it interesting that the doubling time can be calculated by dividing 70 by the growth rate. This simple formula can be applied to any growth rate and provides a clear understanding of how quickly a system is growing. For example, a 7% growth rate would result in a doubling time of 10 years, while a 10% growth rate would have a doubling time of only 7 years.

Understanding the concept of doubling time is important in many fields, such as economics, population growth, and even investments. It allows us to predict how quickly a system will grow and make informed decisions based on that information.

Overall, I found the lecture on exponential growth and the calculation of doubling time to be informative and engaging. It is a great resource for anyone looking to understand this concept better and apply it in their studies or work. Thank you for sharing this video!