To begin Chapter 2, we read "Why it Matters: Growth Models" and learned that with some known data points, we can develop a mathematical model in order to gain insight into real-world situations. 1. Why might creating a mathematical model for a disease outbreak be important? What variables could be used as input and output variables? How could knowing the values of these variables in a model help decision makers? Linear Growth Model: Development Let's investigate the possibility that the number of people infected with this virus grew linearly, or in other words, with constant change. First, we need to recall the basics of a linear model from the reading. 2. What is the general equation used in our online reading to represent linear growth? Pn = In this general equation, what do P0, d, and n represent? (In the words of our online reading.) P0 is the ___________________________________ d isthe___________________________________ n is the___________________________________