The growth rate is a measure of how quickly a quantity increases over a specific period. It is often expressed as a percentage and can apply to various fields, such as economics, biology, and finance. For example, in economics, the growth rate of a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) indicates how fast the economy is expanding. In biology, the growth rate can refer to how quickly a population of organisms, like bacteria or plants, increases in number. Understanding growth rates helps researchers and policymakers make informed decisions, as it provides insights into trends and potential future developments in different areas.