Question

question
which of the contexts below represents linear growth?
answer
○ a towns population shrinks at a rate of 7.8% every year. ○ a sunflower was growing at a rate of 2.25 inches per week.
○ an elevator descends at a rate of 12 feet per second. ○ a coin collection appreciates at a rate of 7.2% per year.

Explanation:

Linear growth is characterized by a constant absolute rate of change (not a percentage rate, which is exponential change).

• A town's population shrinking by a percentage is exponential decay, not linear growth.
• An elevator descending is linear change but it is a decrease, not growth.
• A sunflower growing by a constant absolute amount per week fits linear growth.
• A coin collection appreciating by a percentage is exponential growth, not linear.

Answer:

A sunflower was growing at a rate of 2.25 inches per week.