# Motivation/derivation for Logistic Growth formula?

$$P(t) = \frac{c}{1+ae^{-bt}}$$

I see that $$ae^{-bt}$$ is basically compounding growth formula: $$Pe^{rt}$$ Not sure what the +1 does. Includes the original 100% quantity? What about the reciprocal $$\frac{1}{xxxxxx}$$ part?

Just wondering how these transforms turn the expoential growth into logistic/S-curve growth.

• Why not just plot this function and be done with it? – David G. Stork Mar 25 at 18:39
• The formula comes from solving the differential equation for logisitc growth, which is a standard equation which, being separable, is easily solved. The formula isn't something which directly pops out of the motivation, but instead pops out of a motivated differential equation. I haven't seen a discussion of the differential equation which doesn't discuss its motivation. See the Wikipedia article for a discussion. – John Coleman Mar 25 at 18:44
• Thanks, I'll check out the differential equation. You mean this, right? wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/… – JackOfAll Mar 26 at 16:23