does a graph of the earth's population fit a mathematical equation?

Answer 1

The timeline of the Earth's human population can be modeled with complex curve-fit equations.

The growth of the Earth's population is predominately exponential, but it is punctuated by sudden and significant increases and decreases in the growth rate. The prehistoric introduction of agriculture caused a significant rise in the human population growth rate, as has modern medicine. War, genocide, plague, and famine have caused significant losses of human population. The recent introduction of family planning has caused a significant drop in the growth rate of the human population.

Answer 2

Like any physical data, of course it does not fit a simple equation exactly, but population has in general followed the exponential growth curve.

This means not just the growth but the rate of growth increases as population increases. It took thousands of years to reach one billion, but then we got one billion in they late 1700s, 2 billion in the early 1900s, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in the mid 70's, 5 billion in the late 80's, and 6 billion in 1999.

In reality, the growth rate has been slowing recently with birth control (China) and economic upheavals (Russia, Europe), so it is not a pure, simple exponential (actually, what it means is the exponent is not constant but changing with time).

You can see projections of population growth and population growth rates at http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762181.html

Answer 3

Yes the graph of the earth population as with any population graph is an exponential function such as X ^2 or x squared. It's an upward sloping graph half of a parabola

Answer 4

yes, if you also factor in modern medicine, easier life less toxicity in our environments(hmmm we do live longer so isnt that true somewhat?, atleast not the same toxins etc.), lack of major wars,smaller mortality rates due to plagues, and better farming and irrigation techniques(natures way of population control).
infant mortality is down to alltime lows, accidental deaths are all time low, and lifespans are at an alltime high. if you hade more than 100 yrs of modern medicine to factor in to the graph, you see a definite link.
as a sidenote,in the last 2000 yrs, the world has been at peace for less than 100 yrs i think(some p.b.s. program). now remember that alot of this time has accumullated in the last century. see a link?

Answer 5

You've never heard of Professor Frink's axiom? "When all else fails; manipulate the data!"

Answer 6

One plus one equals one more(har har har)