First U.S. Patent Number

In this project we are going to compute the rate of growth in the number of patents issued in the United States. The table below gives the first United States patent number by year. Find the rate of growth in the first United States patent number from 1859 to 1871. Using this rate, predict the first patent number that was issued in 1997. Using this rate, find in what year the patent number 1,000,000 was issued.

Now find the rate of growth in the first United States patent number from 1946 to 1956 and using this rate, predict the first patent number that was issued in 1997. Using this rate, find in what year the patent number 1,000,000 was issued.

In your opinion, which rate provides the best estimate of the first United States patent number that was issued in 1997? Which rate provides the best estimate of the year in which the patent number 1,000,000 was issued? Provide reasons that might account for differences in these calculations.

First U.S. patent number in each calendar year