# Continuous exponential growth

1. Nov 8, 2005

### Atomos

I understand why base e can be used when the percent growth per annum is 100%, but I dont understand how it can be justified that the growth for numbers other than 1 can be put into the exponent.

2. Nov 9, 2005

### Tide

Consider the limit as $n \rightarrow \infty$ of $\left(1 + rt/n\right)^n$. For nonzero r and t, define $\nu = n/(rt)$. Then, the expression becomes

$$\left[ \left(1 + \frac {1}{\nu} \right)^\nu\right]^{rt}[/itex] You should be able to see your way through that. :) Last edited: Nov 9, 2005 3. Nov 9, 2005 ### HallsofIvy Staff Emeritus I have no idea what you mean by that! Why should "e" work when the growth per annum is 100%? That would be doubling every year wouldn't it? (And why would "per year" be important? Couldn't you take any unit of time and get the same basic formula?) If you have 100% increase per year then it should be easy to see that the growth formula is P(t)= P02t where t is measured in years. The reason why you see base e again and again is because it has an easy derivative (and anti-derivative): the derivative of eat is aeat. You CAN use that in a formula because all exponentials are interchangeable: [tex]2^x= e^{ln(2^x)}= e^{xln2}= e^{kx}$$
with k= ln2.

For some problems, say "half-life" problems where a substance decreases by 1/2 in time T, it might be reasonable to write
$$M= M_0\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{\frac{t}{T}}$$
but if you are going to be taking derivatives or anti-derivatives, it might be better to convert to M0ekt where
$$k= -\frac{ln(2)}{T}$$.

Last edited: Nov 9, 2005