Growth rates measure how quickly a quantity increases over a specific period. They are 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 its economy is expanding. In biology, growth rates can refer to how quickly a population of organisms, like bacteria or plants, increases in size. Understanding growth rates helps researchers and policymakers make informed decisions, as they provide insights into trends and potential future developments in different areas.