Functions are really helpful for understanding how populations grow over time! Here’s how they work:

• Modeling Growth: A function can show us how a population changes. For example, the equation $P(t) = P_0 e^{rt}$ shows how a population grows. In this equation, $P_0$ is the starting population. The letter $r$ stands for the growth rate, and $t$ is the time.

• Making Predictions: You can use the function to guess how many people (or animals) will be in the future. This is great for planning things like food, water, and space.

• Analyzing Trends: Functions help us notice patterns in how populations grow. For example, they can tell us if growth is slowing down or speeding up. This information is really important for understanding things like nature and city development.