The Gompertz Curve as a Growth Curve

Abstract

The properties of the equationare examined with reference to its use as[image] descriptive of growth. The curve is sigmoid, with asymptotes y=0 and k, and a single inflection when y = k/e. It may be expected to give good graduations to material showing an inflection at 35 to 40% of the maximum size; but there is no reason to expect that it will have any wider range of fitting power than the logistic (auto-catalytic) curve. It may be generalized in the same way that Pearl and Reed have generalized the logistic.