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Re: math for the expanding population
Luis Medina (fmedina@CSOS.ORST.EDU)
Thu, 15 Dec 1994 01:46:22 -0800
there are lies, damn lies, statistics, and then there is
mathemathical extrapolation
Have you ever seen bacteria growing in a petry dish? yea it goes
exponential for a while ... so?
yes, the human race might suffer from disease and starvation in the
future but i fear more the reduction of reproductive rates due to
pesticides, heavy metals and other toxics all due to the technological
"wisdom" of the first world.
> text cuts here and there<
> it is based on the exponential function:
> e = exponential base e
> if we set t = 47 years (2040-1993),
> and solve for N, lambda by the way in this expression is ln (1 + 0.018) = 0.0178
> N(2040) = 13.18 billion.
> unfortunately, most of the growth is occurring in
> very populous third world countries.
>
> Country Rate of growth (1975)
> Bangaldesh 2.8% 79 million in 1975
>
> we currently double the world population in less than 35 years.
> in 1850, it took about 200 years to double the population.
> so we can do it willingly or we can be forced into it by starvation, plagues,
> war, and pestilence. not a nice thought.
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