Logarithms and Logistic Growth
In a confined environment the growth rate of a population may not remain constant. In a lake, for example, there is some maximum sustainable population of fish, also called a carrying capacity. In this section, we will develop a model that contains a carrying capacity term, and use it to predict growth under constraints. Because resources are typically limited in systems, these types of models are much more common than linear or geometric growth.Learning Objectives
- Evaluate and rewrite logarithms using the properties of logarithms
- Use the properties of logarithms to solve exponential models for time
- Identify the carrying capacity in a logistic growth model
- Use a logistic growth model to predict growth
Solve Exponentials for Time: Logarithms
Reversing an Exponent
Earlier, we found that since Olympia, WA had a population of 245 thousand in 2008 and had been growing at 3% per year, the population could be modeled by the equationPn = (1+0.03)n (245,000), or equivalently, Pn = 245,000(1.03)n.
Using this equation, we were able to predict the population in the future.
400,000 = 245,000(1.03)n
Dividing both sides by 245,000 gives
1.6327 = 1.03n
One approach to this problem would be to create a table of values, or to use technology to draw a graph to estimate the solution.
Common Logarithm
Example
- log(100)
- log(1000)
- log(10000)
- log(1/100)
- log(1)
Answer:
- log(100) can be written as log(102). Since the log undoes the exponential, log(102) = 2
- log(1000) = log(103) = 3
- log(10000) = log(104) = 4
- Recall that .
- Recall that x0 = 1. log(1) = log(100) = 0
Solving exponential equations with logarithms
- Isolate the exponential. In other words, get it by itself on one side of the equation. This usually involves dividing by a number multiplying it.
- Take the log of both sides of the equation.
- Use the exponent property of logs to rewrite the exponential with the variable exponent multiplying the logarithm.
- Divide as needed to solve for the variable.
Example
If Olympia is growing according to the equation, Pn = 245(1.03)n, where n is years after 2008, and the population is measured in thousands. Find when the population will be 400 thousand.Answer: We need to solve the equation
400 = 245(1.03)n Begin by dividing both sides by 245 to isolate the exponential
1.633 = 1.03n Now take the log of both sides
log(1.633) = log(1.03n) Use the exponent property of logs on the right side
log(1.633)= n log(1.03) Now we can divide by log(1.03)
We can approximate this value on a calculator
n ≈ 16.591
A full walkthrough of this problem is available here. https://youtu.be/liNffAACIUsTry It Now
TIP
When you are solving growth problems, use the language in the question to determine whether you are solving for time, future value, present value or growth rate. Questions that uses words like "when", "what year", or "how long" are asking you to solve for time and you will need to use logarithms to solve them because the time variable in growth problems is in the exponent.Logistic Growth
Limits on Exponential Growth
In our basic exponential growth scenario, we had a recursive equation of the formPn = Pn-1 + r Pn-1
In a confined environment, however, the growth rate may not remain constant. In a lake, for example, there is some maximum sustainable population of fish, also called a carrying capacity.Carrying Capacity
The carrying capacity, or maximum sustainable population, is the largest population that an environment can support.

radjusted =
Substituting this in to our original exponential growth model for r gives
View the following for a detailed explanation of the concept.
https://youtu.be/-6VLXCTkP_cLogistic Growth
If a population is growing in a constrained environment with carrying capacity K, and absent constraint would grow exponentially with growth rate r, then the population behavior can be described by the logistic growth model:Examples
A forest is currently home to a population of 200 rabbits. The forest is estimated to be able to sustain a population of 2000 rabbits. Absent any restrictions, the rabbits would grow by 50% per year. Predict the future population using the logistic growth model.Answer: Modeling this with a logistic growth model, r = 0.50, K = 2000, and P0 = 200. Calculating the next year:
We can use this to calculate the following year:
A calculator was used to compute several more values:
n | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Pn | 200 | 290 | 414 | 578 | 784 | 1022 | 1272 | 1503 | 1690 | 1821 | 1902 |

On an island that can support a population of 1000 lizards, there is currently a population of 600. These lizards have a lot of offspring and not a lot of natural predators, so have very high growth rate, around 150%. Calculating out the next couple generations:
Interestingly, even though the factor that limits the growth rate slowed the growth a lot, the population still overshot the carrying capacity. We would expect the population to decline the next year.
Calculating out a few more years and plotting the results, we see the population wavers above and below the carrying capacity, but eventually settles down, leaving a steady population near the carrying capacity.

Try It Now
A field currently contains 20 mint plants. Absent constraints, the number of plants would increase by 70% each year, but the field can only support a maximum population of 300 plants. Use the logistic model to predict the population in the next three years.Answer: