How does exponential growth typically progress?

Exponential growth is characterized by the rate of growth being proportional to the current value. This means that as the quantity increases, it grows at a rate that is a constant percentage of its current size. For example, if a population grows at an annual rate of 10%, the amount added each year increases over time because that 10% is calculated from a larger and larger base. This contrasts with linear growth, where the amount added is a constant fixed amount regardless of the size of the population. Therefore, the correct description of exponential growth is that it progresses proportionally, with growth accelerating as the quantity itself increases.

In this framework, logarithmic growth, constant growth, and linear growth all depict different relationships that do not capture the accelerating nature of exponential growth. Logarithmic growth increases quickly at first but then slows down significantly over time, constant growth implies no change, and linear growth increases by a fixed amount rather than a percentage.