distinguish between linear and exponential growth or decay

Question

The population of a town is increasing by 606 people per year. State whether this growth is linear or exponential. If the population is 1600 today, what will the population be in four years?

Answer 1

Obviously Linear because the growth amount is a constant per year.

(for exponential, the growth amount is a fixed % of the then current year's population.)

 

Four years of linear growth at 606 increase per year would be total 2424 increase in 4 years; just add that to the starting population of 1600 today.