Exponential growth ($y(t)=y_0{e}^{rt},r>0$)

A positive quantity undergoes exponential growth at constant rate $r>0$ when $y^{\prime }=ry$. For $y_0>0$, the solution of a differential equation is $y(t)=y_0{e}^{rt}$. Every interval of duration $\Delta t$ multiplies the value by the same factor $e^{r\Delta t}$, independently of its starting value.

The interval required to double a quantity under constant-rate exponential growth. Solving $e^{r{t}_2}=2$ with the natural logarithm gives $t_2=\ln 2/r$. At $r=0.2$ per time unit, it is approximately $3.46574$ time units; every subsequent doubling takes the same interval.