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Leslie Matrix

A Leslie matrix is simple linear model of how the age structure of a population (the number of individuals per age range) evolves over time. It's used in a variety of ecological and demographic applications.

One fun thing to do is to take these death probabilities and [from an actuarial life table] throw them into a Leslie matrix [1], along with assumptions for the age-specific birth rates. From there you can simulate the projected population growth (ignoring migration) with no more than a couple of lines of Python/R/whathaveyou.
It's also a great study case for understanding some basic principles of linear algebra: The dominant eigenvalue is the stable population growth rate, and the corresponding eigenvector is the stable age distribution.

HN comment on actuarial data as component of leslie matrix

This lecture has a good introduction starting a 7:00.

Michael Monagan - Using Leslie matrices as the application of eigenvalues and eigenvectors in a first course in Linear Algebra

Youtube Lecture by Monagan

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